Latest news with #JonathanWilkinson
CBC
6 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan want to study feasibility of west-east pipeline
The government of Ontario, working with Alberta and Saskatchewan, wants to explore the feasibility of a new west-east pipeline to bring western oil and gas to southern Ontario refineries and ports. Ontario issued a request for proposals to conduct a study "exploring options for establishing a new economic and energy corridor" between the provinces, according to a government news release Thursday. "By advancing a Canadian energy corridor from Alberta to Ontario, we are securing long-term energy access for families and businesses, creating thousands of jobs, and opening new doors for trade and investment, while strengthening our position as a global energy leader," said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in the news release. "This corridor will help get Alberta's responsibly produced energy to markets across Canada and around the world." U.S. tariffs prompt pipeline talks U.S. tariff threats this year have revived discussions around expanding Canada's pipeline capacity in order to make the country's oil and gas industry — which is closely tied to the U.S. market — more self-reliant. In February, then-Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson told reporters that Canada's energy infrastructure was vulnerable to potential U.S. tariffs, and the country should weigh building a new west-east pipeline. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in Thursday's release that the pipeline is needed to respond to economic threats from the south. "Canada can no longer rely on energy infrastructure that lies outside of our borders and can be shut down at a moment's notice by another country," he said. "It's time for us to build cross-Canada infrastructure within our borders so we can protect our energy security, find new markets for Canadian energy and resources and create new jobs." Ford and Smith signed a memorandum of understanding in July to collaborate on building pipelines and trade infrastructure across provincial borders, with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe signing on later that month. WATCH | Alberta, Ontario sign MOU on pipelines, trade infrastructure: Alberta, Ontario premiers agree to study energy corridors, trade barriers 1 month ago Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have agreed to a feasibility study of new pipelines and rail lines between provinces while increasing interprovincial trade of alcohol and vehicles. Public opinion around pipelines remains divided in Canada, despite some increased support in light of U.S. tariff threats, according to an online Angus Reid survey of Canadians in January. Support for Energy East, the west-to-east pipeline proposal that was cancelled in 2017, increased from 58 to 65 per cent since 2019, the poll suggested.
CTV News
24-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Natural Resources Minister makes big announcements on mining in Sudbury
Federal minister for energy and natural resources stopped in Sudbury to announce $10M in funding for several sectors. Critical minerals and the environment were two of the main reasons for a visit from Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Jonathan Wilkinson, where he made two funding announcements worth more than $10 million total. Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Jonathan Wilkinson, makes funding announcements in Sudbury. June 10, 2024 (Ian Campbell/CTV Northern Ontario) Wilkinson began his day Monday by announcing two investments of $5 million each to the Mining Innovation Rehabilitation and Applied Research Corp (MIRARCO) and Electra Battery Materials Corporation (Electra) to support the critical minerals sector in northern Ontario. Funding to MIRARCO will aim to advance technological readiness for recovery of battery metals like nickel, cobalt and copper from mine tailings at Vale and Glencore mines in Greater Sudbury while reducing the long-term social and environmental costs associated with mine waste. Electra will be used to advance the next phase of its battery materials recycling project. The company is currently constructing the continent's only battery-grade cobalt refinery as part of an effort to build the North American supply chain for battery materials. The Canadian government also announced Monday it would be releasing an updated critical minerals list by adding three new minerals. The list guides federal policy and programs and signals the government's priority to stakeholders. After consultation with the provinces and territories, Canada added high-purity iron, phosphorous and silicon metal to bring the total of critical minerals on the government's list to 34. From there, it was off for a tour of Dynamic Earth before finishing at the Jane Goodall Reclamation Trail in Garson. Wilkinson announced the government's pledge of $200,000 to the city to plant 2000,000 trees by the year 2027. The second amount was $300,000 to the Canadian Tree Nursery Association to increase skilled labour in the tree nursery sector. 'I'm here with Councillor Natalie Labbée for Ward 7 to celebrate this early and important investment and to recognize from the federal government, certainly our role here in Sudbury of re-greening and our history since the 70s,' said Mayor Paul Lefebvre. The minister stood ready to defend this government's recent positioning between support for both the environment and the mining economy. His government has taken heat over affordability given recent increases in the cost of living and taxes. He was asked how plans to counter the argument given how some have accused the pendulum of swinging too far the other way. 'I certainly agree that we need to be focused on affordability. As you know, the gasoline price by and large is a world price, it's set on the world market and it's not a Canadian price and the only real thing that you're talking about are provincial or federal taxes that are on gasoline,' Wilkinson said. 'Mr. Poilievre likes to talk about the price on pollution or the 'carbon tax,' but what Mr. Poilievre conveniently forgets is that eight out of 10 Canadian families, especially those who live on modest incomes, do get more money back. He can say it all he wants, that he doesn't believe that's true, but every reputable economist, every reputable source says that's true and I think it's time Mr. Poilievre stopped lying to Canadians.'
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Canada Warms Up to Fossil Fuels With New LNG Export Terminal
In March 2024, Canada's then resource minister, Jonathan Wilkinson, declared, 'We are not interested in investing in LNG facilities.' This month, LNG Canada, the country's first operating export terminal for the fuel, shipped its first cargo. Many believe this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship between Canada's energy resources and world markets. The last couple of Canadian federal governments have been vocal opponents of the oil and gas industry in the country that is home to some of the world's most abundant hydrocarbon resources. For two terms, the Justin Trudeau-led administration worked hard to make life as hard as possible for the companies that exploit those resources by increasing red tape for expansion and tightening emission-related requirements as far as they would go. This was the context in which Jonathan Wilkinson made his declaration, adding to it the claim that 'The government is opposed to using government money to fund inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.' Instead, said government chose to bet on carbon taxes and supposedly efficient subsidies for things such as EV batteries and EVs themselves—a field where one major Canadian subsidy beneficiary declared bankruptcy earlier this year and others are reconsidering their Canadian growth plans. While the Canadian government was doing this, the private sector, as advised by Wilkinson, by the way, assessed the business case and made the investments. A group of energy majors led by Shell and also including Malaysia's Petrobas, Japan's Mitsubishi, Korea's Kogas, and PetroChina, got together and built LNG Canada—the country's first ever LNG export facility that targets specifically the Asian energy market. There are two big reasons for this choice of market. First and simplest, Canada's west coast is close to Asia. Geographical proximity means lower transportation costs, leading to a lower end-price. Second, Canadian natural gas is trading more cheaply than U.S. gas right now, which adds to the cost advantage, regardless of earlier claims that Canadian gas was too expensive for exports to make any sense. Mitsubishi Corporation 'strongly believes that further development of LNG Canada is an optimal option to explore,' one senior executive at the company told the Financial Times following the news of the first LNG shipment from Kitimat. The FT included the quote in a report describing Prime Minister Mark Carney's stated aim of turning Canada into an energy superpower—a marked departure from the Trudeau administration, whose first, second, and third priority was reducing emissions of carbon dioxide, whatever the cost. Carney has publicly embraced all forms of energy and packaged his own departure from his earlier fixation on emissions as a response to U.S. President Trump's tariff offensive, which now offers Canada a chance to develop its energy resources. As stated by Carney's energy minister, 'President Trump's tariffs are disrupting trade, threatening Canadian jobs and industries, and rewriting the rules of the game.' Also, 'These [LNG] projects are part of our broader strategy to protect Canada's energy security, diversify our trade, and enhance our long-term competitiveness, all while building the most reliable, low-carbon energy possible,' Tim Hodgson said, as quoted by the FT. This does seem like a marked departure from past positions for the man who set up as many net-zero financial alliances as he managed to have time for, and who, for all intents and purposes, built a reputation as a most active net-zero champion not only in Canada but globally. And yet, Carney has paused the carbon tax that many Canadians blame for the drop in living standards, he has embraced gas, and he even appears not to be against new pipelines. That said, not everyone believes that Carney means what he says. The carbon tax, for instance, has only been paused for households but not for companies. Canada is still very much on board with net-zero. But the shift in federal government narrative at the very least might be an indication that some in that government are acknowledging the realities of energy and the fact that oil and gas continue to be very much in demand, despite Mark Carney's own claim in a 2021 book that 'To meet the 1.5C [global warming] target, more than 80 per cent of current fossil fuel reserves (including three-quarters of coal, half of gas, one-third of oil) would need to stay in the ground, stranding these assets.' Naturally, net-zero advocates claim demand for LNG does not justify more LNG capacity anywhere in the world, with a glut coming due to overcapacity. Serious analysts, meanwhile, point to things like a lack of infrastructure as a challenge for further LNG growth in Canada because it increases costs for new projects. Yet, as usual, it will be the market that will have the final word. If there is enough demand to motivate all these costs—LNG plants are never cheap, anywhere in the world—there will be more LNG export facilities in Canada. Net-zero advocates would just have to swallow that. By Irina Slav for More Top Reads From this article on
USA Today
04-06-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
Canadian wildfire smoke is fouling U.S. air quality. We show where.
Canadian wildfire smoke is fouling U.S. air quality. We show where. Smoke from Canadian wildfires is engulfing much of the eastern and central United States and will last through the week. The wildfires are releasing large amounts of smoke into the atmosphere. Over the Great Plains, the high-level flow of winds has been pushing the smoke south, and shifting upper-level winds from the west will drag the smoke over the eastern states, according to The Weather Channel. Where Canadian smoke blankets the U.S. Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. Is climate change worsening Canadian wildfires? Some Canadian officials say climate change is playing a part in the blazes. 'It is a simple fact that Canada is experiencing the impacts of climate change, including more frequent and more extreme wildfires,' Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said in a CTV News report. Higher temperatures are leading to drier conditions, which makes it easier for forest fires to start. Erratic winds allow the fires to spread, CTV said. How wildfire smoke can travel thousands of miles Wildfire smoke worsens air quality Wildfire smoke has been fouling U.S. air quality for several days, starting in states bordering Canada, including the Dakotas, Minnesota and other Midwestern states. The smoke has drifted south and east, creating moderate air quality levels for a large swath of central and southeastern states, according to By the morning of June 3, air quality in Tallahassee, Jacksonville and Gainesville, Florida, was at a moderate level. How wildfire smoke can endanger your health Inhaling smoke can result in a variety of ailments, from minor irritability to more serious problems like respiratory and cardiovascular disorders. According to the EPA, particulate matter, also known as PM 2.5, is a main component of wildfire smoke and is the air pollutant of greatest concern to public health. The fine particles are inhaled and enter your lungs and bloodstream where they can cause damage to other organs. Exposure has been linked to a higher risk of lung cancer, heart attacks, strokes and brain damage. If the air quality becomes unhealthy, avoid physical exertion, including indoors. While inside, keep windows and doors shut. Leave off any air conditioning or fan systems that pull air from outside, and use air filters or air purifiers. You can monitor air quality in your area at More: U.S and Canada wildfire and smoke tracker. See air quality warnings near you. More: Which states will see smoke from Canadian wildfires? EPA issues air quality warnings. CONTRIBUTING Jeanine Santucci and Chad Murphy, USA TODAY Network SOURCE The Air Quality Index, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NASA, NOAA This story was updated to add new information.
Cambrian News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Cambrian News
Former AM named Powys County Council Chair
Cllr William Powell (Liberal Democrat) was unanimously approved as the new chairman of the council at Powys County Council's annual general meeting on 15 May and takes over the chains of office from the incumbent, Cllr Jonathan Wilkinson.
