The federal government says Alberta will play a central role in strengthening Canada’s economy as Ottawa looks to advance major projects, attract investment and expand energy development.
Dominic LeBlanc, president of the King’s Privy Council and minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, intergovernmental affairs, internal trade and one Canadian economy, wrapped up a three-day tour of Alberta on June 26.
During the trip, LeBlanc met with trade, industry, business and municipal leaders in Fort McMurray, Red Deer and Edmonton.
The federal government says the meetings focused on Alberta’s economic importance, energy development, major projects, investment and efforts to reduce barriers to trade within Canada.
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Energy partnership highlighted
LeBlanc reaffirmed Ottawa’s commitment to the implementation agreement tied to the Canada-Alberta memorandum of understanding.
The federal government says the agreement is intended to help unlock Alberta’s natural resources and support Canada’s role in clean and conventional energy.
LeBlanc said Alberta is central to Canada’s economic future.
“From the largest carbon capture project in the world to nation-building pipelines and major projects that are already supporting tens of thousands of jobs, Albertans are proving that we can build big and build clean at the same time,” LeBlanc said in a release.
Major projects discussed
The minister also pointed to federal efforts to advance major projects and create more certainty for investors.
That includes the creation of the Major Projects Office, which Ottawa says is meant to support a more efficient regulatory process.
The federal government says the office is advancing 23 nation-building projects and strategies, representing more than $135 billion in new investment and supporting more than 155,000 jobs.
LeBlanc also highlighted the recent Canada-Alberta co-operation agreement on environmental and impact assessment, which is intended to support a “one project, one review” approach.
Trade barriers also raised
During the Alberta visit, LeBlanc met with three chambers of commerce to discuss efforts to remove barriers to interprovincial trade and labour mobility.
The federal government says that work includes reducing red tape and improving the movement of goods, services and skilled workers across Canada.
LeBlanc also emphasized the importance of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement in maintaining a stable trading relationship with the United States and Mexico.
Ottawa says preserving an integrated North American market remains important for export-focused sectors, including energy, manufacturing and agriculture.