With the longest coastlines in the world, Canada is well positioned to partake in the $1-trillion global offshore wind energy market, supporting the creation of sustainable jobs and helping power Canada's economy while ensuring secure domestic energy sources. That is why, together, Canada, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador are taking steps to ensure a thriving offshore energy sector.
It is in this context that the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson today announced Canada's membership in the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA), which aims to mobilize international economies and agreements to accelerate offshore wind uptake. The Governments of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador have also joined GOWA as subnational governments, and today's announcement demonstrates a collective positioning of Canada's commitment and ambition to advancing offshore wind as a domestic source of clean and reliable energy.
Through GOWA, Canada will gain access to international and industry expertise that will help strengthen the foundations of our offshore wind industry, complementing notable gains that have already been made to expand the offshore wind industry in Canada. These include:
- The passage of Bill C-49 to amend the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act, also known as the Accord Acts, which created the legislative framework for offshore renewable energy in the Atlantic region. It also expanded the mandate of the existing joint management offshore petroleum regulators to include offshore renewable energy.
- The coming into force of the Canada Offshore Renewable Energy regulations establishing safety and environmental protection requirements for project developers, which will serve as the foundation for future regulations under the Accord Acts;
- Regional Assessments of Offshore Wind[Bl1] in Atlantic Canada, which examined potential effects of projects and proposed mitigation measures and will inform Canada's next steps on potential future development in Atlantic offshore areas; and
- Investments in supports and science-based activities to better understand and de-risk optimal areas for future projects, including the Offshore Wind Indigenous and Coastal Community Grant Initiative and the Atlantic Canada Offshore Wind Integration and Transmission Study.
As progress advances to build a strong and sustainable offshore wind industry Canada, we look forward to being part of this international economic community.
