Opinion | By Jonathan Wilkinson – federal minister of Natural Resources
I grew up in Saskatoon. I went to elementary and high school here and did my undergraduate work at the University of Saskatchewan
I returned to Saskatchewan after completing graduate school, working for several years for Premier Romanow and for the Province of Saskatchewan as a constitutional and federal-provincial relations specialist.
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My parents live here as does my sister and I come back frequently with my children – often to get recharged in the incredible beauty that is Saskatchewan’s northern boreal forest.
While British Columbia is where I now live, Saskatchewan will always remain a home for me.
I mention this, in part, because it pains me greatly when I hear it said by some that the federal government neither understands nor cares about the concerns and the aspirations of the people that live in the province I came from.
Personally, I would not be serving in this federal Cabinet if I believed that were the case. For me it is very clear that it is the responsibility of any federal government to be concerned with the circumstances and the aspirations of every region of this country.
Certainly, over the past few years there have, at times, been disagreements on certain policy matters between the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan – though I would tell you that discussions that take place out of the public eye tend to be far more collaborative than it would often seem in media reporting.
Several of the issues that have created tension in recent years have been at the intersection of energy and climate policy. But even here, I would suggest that the fundamental guideposts are not significantly different.
I do not believe for a second that the majority of folks in this province are any different from those in other provinces in accepting the scientific fact that the climate is changing… that the most significant cause is human produced carbon emissions… and that the reality of leaving our children a world where we do not achieve net zero status by 2050 would be immoral and unconscionable.
However, where there is, and there should be, vigorous discussion and debate, is how we make progress on reducing carbon emissions in line with what science tells us we must.
And it is here that governments of all political stripes should be focusing their time, effort and resources so that we are moving forward in a manner that will drive emissions reductions in a manner will ensure the future prosperity of every region of this country.
It is in this context that Canada and all provinces and territories can choose to be leaders in the global energy transition. Or we can let it happen to us – with all the attendant consequences of being a late mover.
My job, as I see it, is to work with Saskatchewanians in determining how best to utilize the abundance of resources, technology and expertise that exist in this province to accelerate job creation and economic growth.
For Saskatchewan, such opportunities include hydrogen, biofuels, critical minerals and minerals processing, CCUS and renewable energy.
Our collective aim should be to develop plans that align the efforts and resources of all levels and every department of government, as well as the private sector, labour and Indigenous peoples.
That is why I recently launched the Regional Energy and Resource Tables process.
These Tables are intended to be a partnership between federal and provincial/territorial governments – to collaboratively identify the three to four most significant areas of economic opportunity unique to each province or territory – and to develop place-based, resource-based economic strategies focused on the comparative advantages that are unique to each jurisdiction.
It is an approach to a more co-operative federalism. An approach that reflects and respects the regional economic diversity of Canada.
Such strategies will enable us all to better articulate what the capital, labour and skills requirements of future areas of growth will be – and will enable Canadians to have greater clarity as to what the energy transition will look like.
A global energy transition is indeed underway. It is up to all of us to seize the opportunities that are available through such a transition. Saskatchewan and Canada are enormously well positioned to prosper if we act thoughtfully and aggressively.
I look forward to working with the Government of Saskatchewan and with Indigenous leaders, industry and labour to ensure we are collectively and collaboratively creating a sustainable and a prosperous future for future generations.
Jonathan Wilkinson is the federal minister of Natural Resources
