This release was issued under a previous government.

Today, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne met in Edmonton to discuss new opportunities to partner on energy and climate change initiatives.

The Premiers announced a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Alberta’s Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation (CCEMC) and Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE).

The MOU commits CCEMC and OCE to examining opportunities including, but not limited to:

  • reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the production, transportation and use of natural resources in Alberta and Ontario
  • accelerating the development of renewable energy and energy storage, and
  • fostering new and innovative uses of carbon dioxide.

This partnership will combine the strengths of CCEMC and OCE to help Alberta and Ontario reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shift to a lower-carbon economy by identifying technology development and demonstration projects. The cleantech initiatives that result from the MOU will benefit the environment, nurture and grow the sector, and enhance Ontario and Alberta’s response to climate change.

The cleantech MOU builds on the $8-million Alberta-Ontario Innovation Program, which is jointly managed by Alberta Innovates–Technology Futures and the OCE, and which brings industry leaders and academia from Ontario and Alberta together to collaborate on solutions to key industry challenges, including those related to advanced manufacturing, energy, environment, and information and communications technology.

Quotes

“Alberta is taking action to implement our Climate Leadership Plan. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a challenge shared by all provinces and, by working together, we can advance clean technology, diversify our respective economies and create good jobs.”

Rachel Notley, Premier of Alberta

“Ontario is a North American leader in the creation, use and manufacturing of cleantech solutions. This MOU opens the door to joint projects and innovative discoveries that will help Ontario and Alberta reduce their carbon footprints and achieve their greenhouse gas emission reduction targets — benefiting the environment, and creating new, high-value jobs and economic opportunities in both provinces.”

Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario

"CCEMC and OCE both have significant expertise and experience in advancing innovation. By working in collaboration, we will leverage our strengths to spur investment and accelerate the development of new technologies that serve the economic and environmental interests of both provinces.”

Steve MacDonald, CCEMC CEO

“We are taking an important step toward optimizing the impact of provincial resources by forming this exciting partnership with CCEMC. Together, OCE and CCEMC will be able to take a coordinated, collaborative approach to clean technology innovation and commercialization and become a strong example of how investments in the environment inevitably translate into investments in the economy.”

Dr. Tom Corr, President and CEO of Ontario Centres of Excellence

Quick facts