In 2003, Canada´s Energy Ministers agreed that innovation and new technologies are key to addressing growing concerns over primary energy supplies, the burgeoning growth in energy demand and increasing public commitment to environmental protection.
For this reason, the Council of Energy Ministers (CEM), comprised of Energy Ministers from the federal, provincial and territorial governments of Canada, established the Energy Technology Working Group (ETWG) in September 2003 with a four-part mandate:
- review existing energy research, development and demonstration work across the country and identify Canadian strengths and weaknesses;
- identify areas for cooperative, concentrated efforts;
- develop options for enhanced collaboration between governments, industry, research institutions and other key partners; and
- prepare an inventory of Canada's energy research capacity.
A first progress report was tabled at the CEM meeting in Iqaluit in July 2004 where Ministers endorsed the recommendation to foster technology progress through a collaborative framework that would include:
- a broad statement to endorse and support federal, provincial and territorial collaboration in energy technology and innovation;
- a set of customized bilateral and multilateral agreements that results in implementation of collaborative programs or projects;
- development of suitable mechanisms for collaboration by building on existing mechanisms; and
- broadening the dialogue to include industry.
The ETWG has since taken action to: define energy priorities; find funding mechanisms available today to support energy technology research, development and demonstration (RD&D); and build the next phase of its work plan, to support and further develop new technology projects across the country. For details of the ETWG´s strategy for 2005/2006, see its Progress Report to CEM 2005.