News release

Joint Statement by Ministers of Energy and Environment

Energy (June 2002 - July 2018)

NOTE: The following statement was released today, Nov. 19, by Gordon Balser, Nova Scotia Minister of Energy, and Chester Gillan, Minister of the Environment for Prince Edward Island -- co-chairs of the Joint Ministers of Energy and the Environment. A copy of the Nov. 14 letter mentioned below is included following the contact information.


On Oct. 28 the provinces and territories invited the federal government to work in partnership in creating a truly Canadian plan to address climate change through a collaborative approach. Twelve principles were released to be incorporated into a national plan on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

On Nov. 7, the provincial and territorial deputy ministers met with federal officials to provide more clarification on the 12 principles and to attempt to establish a process for moving ahead on a national partnership on climate change. As a result of these discussions, in a letter dated Nov. 14, we -- as co-chairs of the Joint Ministers of Energy and the Environment -- requested confirmation from the federal government that the statement of principles will serve as the basis for moving forward on climate change as full and equal partners.

In order to make progress on this issue, we agree with the suggestion of the federal government, received late this afternoon, to have our deputy ministers meet to discuss the statement of principles and establish a process for moving forward prior to convening a meeting of the Joint Ministers of Energy and the Environment tentatively set for Nov. 29 in Toronto.

Again, as co-chairs, we urge the federal government to commit to working with the provinces and territories to build an effective national response to global climate change.


November 14, 2002

The Hon. Herb Dhaliwal The Hon. David Anderson Minister of Natural Resources Canada Minister of Environment

Dear Ministers:

There are a number of important issues arising from the October 28 Joint Meeting of Ministers of Energy and Environment (JMM) in Halifax that we would appreciate your commitment on in order to move forward.

As you are aware, our deputy ministers met on November 7. At that meeting, the provinces and territories provided clarification of the principles put forward at the JMM in Halifax. Discussions were also initiated on re-establishing a national partnership with respect to action on climate change.

Premier Hamm, current chair of the Annual Premiers Conference, and Prime Minister Chretien spoke briefly in recent days about these principles and the need to find a way forward to which all parties can agree.

As JMM co-chairs, we request written confirmation at your earliest opportunity that the federal government is prepared to agree that the statement of principles is the basis for working collaboratively with provinces and territories to build a real national partnership. Our conversations with provinces and territories indicate a willingness and commitment to working with you on climate change as full and equal partners to develop a national plan.

We would propose that, once we have received your concurrence on the principles and a commitment to a real partnership, our deputy ministers meet at an early date to find common ground for development of the partnership leading to a national climate change plan.

Progress on these key issues by our deputy ministers would, we believe, set the stage for renewed discussions at the ministerial level and a more effective national response to one of the most important environmental issues facing Canadians -- global climate change.

Yours truly,

Gordon Balser J. Chester Gillan Nova Scotia Minister of Energy P.E.I. Minister of Environment JMM Co-chair JMM Co-chair

c.c. Premier John Hamm, Province of Nova Scotia
Provincial/Territorial Ministers of Energy
Provincial/Territorial Ministers of Environment
Provincial/Territorial Deputy Ministers of Energy
Provincial/Territorial Deputy Ministers of Environment