Energy Ministers from Canada's western provinces and northern territories signed an MOU on Sunday which sets a framework for a shared critical minerals strategy. Photo Courtesy of B.C. Minister of Mining and Critical Minerals Jagrup Brar/Facebook.
Whitehorse, YT – Yukon is pushing for federal investment in reliable energy as part of a new western and northern Canada agreement on critical minerals, according to Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Ted Laking.
The memorandum of understanding, signed Sunday by Yukon, B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, sets a framework for a shared critical minerals strategy, aiming to develop Western Canada as a global hub and expand export markets.
Minister Laking says the territory successfully secured language in the agreement calling for dependable winter power.
“It opens up a lot of potential,” said Laking. “When we have British Columbia and Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, in lockstep behind the Yukon saying, ‘hey, federal government, you really need to help these guys out when it comes to investment in their power infrastructure during the wintertime,’ that’s really good for us.”
The mention of power infrastructure includes potential projects such as a Yukon–B.C. transmission line, which could reduce reliance on diesel. The focus on energy comes after the territory faced near-rolling blackouts last December during extreme cold that significantly strained the grid.
Officials are now working on a joint strategy, expected to be finalized in June.
