Washington, D.C.
December 15, 2014
Good afternoon.
It is great to be in Washington on my third official visit to the United States.
I particularly want to thank Secretary Moniz for hosting today’s meeting.
This morning, we had some positive—and frank—discussions further to the path laid out at the North American Leaders’ Summit in Toluca, Mexico, last February.
We share our leaders’ vision for turning North America into “the most competitive and dynamic region in the world” and that energy security is critical to both our economic and national security.
North America is a secure, responsible and reliable producer and supplier of energy. Our discussions focused on formalizing enhanced cooperation in three areas:
- North America data: improving information on North American energy flows and the quality, timeliness and transparency of energy data, as well as develop continental maps of energy infrastructure;
- Examining Mexico’s energy reforms, its implications for the North American energy sector and enhancing business opportunities for North American energy development; and
- Working together to build resilient and modern North American energy infrastructure.
Much of the necessary foundation is in place. Canada and the United States already enjoy the largest energy cooperation between any two countries – at $140 billion a year.
And Secretary Moniz and I continue to build on this groundwork. This is the fourth time we’ve met face-to-face since I became Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources last spring.
Since then, we’ve significantly expanded bilateral cooperation on energy. Indeed, we’ve signed a Memorandum of Understanding in September of this year on 11 areas for energy cooperation; we’ve worked together on the pressing issue of energy security in the Ukraine.
As an example of our strong relationship with the U.S., they chose Canada as their first international destination for their Quadrennial Energy Review.
Such efforts reflect our common interest in a robust and integrated approach to energy. And why not?
North America’s electrical grids are so interconnected that it’s probably more accurate to refer to them as one grid rather than two. There are already 70 pipelines safely delivering oil and gas across our borders every day.
Naturally, our Government thinks that number should grow to 71. Keystone XL can help end dependence on insecure sources of crude with a secure, reliable supply from Canada, North Dakota and Montana.
Mexico’s energy reforms offer tremendous opportunities to enhance North America’s energy security.
Going forward, there is potential for deeper energy trade and infrastructure integration between our three countries.
Those opportunities include cooperation on renewables and clean technologies.
Canada already has one of the world’s cleanest electricity mixes with 79 percent generated from non-emitting sources.
Last year, Canada was the second fastest growing clean-energy market in the G-20
Canada's per capita GHG emissions are now at their lowest level since tracking began. Since 2005, the Canadian economy has grown while greenhouse gas emissions have decreased.
And just last month, we celebrated the opening of the world’s first post-combustion carbon capture and storage project in a coal-fired power plant.
We have deeply integrated economies, abundant reserves, shared critical energy infrastructure, and common values that underpin our strong collaboration.
We must enhance our trilateral energy collaboration in a way that supports North American energy security, jobs and environmental performance.
I look forward to continuing to work with Secretary Moniz and Secretary Coldwell to achieve energy security and independence on the North American continent.
Thank you.
