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Keynote Session with Mr. Paul Martin, Prime Minister-designate
Remarks by Co-Chairs
Oryssia Lennie, Deputy Minister, Western Economic Diversification
Canada
John MacDonald, Chairman and CEO, Day4 Energy Inc., and Co-founder,
MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates
Oryssia Lennie commented on Mr. Martin’s commitment to the sector and to a strong and successful West, saying, “It’s now up to us.” WD is committed to sustainable communities and to linking social, economic, and environmental needs. Environmental technologies allow all three areas to be addressed at once.
The day’s agenda reflects the priorities of diverse stakeholders and we need to come together and form partnerships to make this a success. She said she hoped the discussion would lead to a shared vision, defined roles and responsibilities, and a list of recommended actions.
John MacDonald noted that technology had allowed progress and improved quality of life, while threatening the global ecosystem on which all life depends. The challenge is to continue improving quality of life while addressing environmental impacts, and technology is key to doing this.
Competitive cost is critical to the adoption of new technologies, he added. Demand for energy will continue to grow, as traditional energy reserves run out. So the real reason to develop renewable energy is that in 100 years it may be all we have.
He emphasized the need to address the disconnect between environmental and economic thinking. The environmental threat is very real, but green alternatives will not be taken seriously unless they are cost-competitive.
“B.C.’s and Canada’s advantage lies in the brainpower of its populations,” said Mr. MacDonald. Canada’s small market size highlights the importance of exports, and gaining access to international markets is feasible even for SMEs.
He agreed with Mr. Martin’s view of government’s role, and urged participants to consider three kinds of levers that government can use to support this sector:
- Procurement: government purchasing policies and the design of its own buildings
- Tax system: flow-through shares and other possibilities
- Granting mechanisms: the least important of the three