April 22, 2015 Houston, Texas Natural Resources Canada
The Honourable Greg Rickford, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, today was joined by Dr. Ernest Moniz, United States Secretary of Energy, and Pedro Joaquin Coldwell, Mexico Secretary of Energy, for a panel discussion during CERAWeek 2015 in Houston, Texas.
This represents the second trilateral meeting of the three North American energy leaders. Last December, during their meeting in Washington, D.C., the ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding formalizing trilateral cooperation for greater cooperation and integration with a long-term goal of attaining North American energy security.
The leaders highlighted the need to maximize North America’s competitive advantage and to enhance sharing of best practices in developing unconventional oil and gas, and also the importance of building safe, modern infrastructure to meet the rising demand for energy in North America and around the world.
During his introductory remarks, Minister Rickford emphasized Canada’s economic fundamentals and the Harper Government’s actions in creating one of the world’s most favourable investment climates by lowering taxes and opening new markets through free trade agreements.
Canada's overall tax rate on new business investment is the lowest in the G7. The Harper Government’s low-tax plan has contributed to Canada’s position as the second-fastest growing clean energy market in the G20.
Minister Rickford also discussed Canada’s contribution to global energy security through innovation and efficiency in the oil sands. He noted that Canada has the ability to deploy its energy expertise, technology and products in partner countries to advance responsible resource development and use.
The Minister reinforced the benefits of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which the U.S. State Department has acknowledged is environmentally sound and will create jobs and replace insecure — and same or higher-emitting — sources of crude from countries such as Venezuela with a secure, reliable supply from Canada, North Dakota and Montana.
The Honourable Greg Rickford
Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources
Chris McCluskey
Director of Communications
Office of Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources
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