Sept-Îles, Quebec
14 October 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, in the presence of Jean D'Amour, Minister for Transport and the Implementation of the Maritime Strategy, Minister responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent region and Minister responsible for the Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine region, today announced that the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec are in a good position to table the legislative framework to implement the Canada-Quebec Accord, signed in 2011, for the joint management of petroleum resources in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Since 2006, our two Governments have worked closely together on many important achievements, and since 2011, the two Governments have negotiated details on the legislative framework to implement the joint management Accord. Being in a good position to table the legislative framework for this accord is a significant milestone of our continued collaboration with the new Government of Quebec. Once passed, this legislation will enable the safe and environmentally-responsible development of petroleum resources in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, creating jobs, revenues and economic growth for the province. The Government of Canada believes that Quebec will benefit from all revenues derived from the development of petroleum resources, including royalties.
Through the legislation, both Governments will continue to work to establish a joint regulatory function for the management of oil and gas resources in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which will promote a more competitive offshore regulatory environment. As established by the Accord, it is expected that the legislation will be tabled in Parliament before the end of the year. The Government of Quebec has informed us that it expects to do the same at the National Assembly of Quebec. It is a concrete example of the two Governments collaborating effectively on responsible resource development.
