The Building a Green Prairie Economy Act: Discussion paper and engagement questions

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The Act

At its core, the late Honourable Jim Carr saw the Act as a new way of doing business – to better focus federal efforts to support regional economic growth, and create good, sustainable, and well-paying jobs across the Prairies. The Act requires collaboration between federal departments on cross-cutting Prairie priorities, naming the Minister responsible for economic development in the Prairies as lead, in collaboration with the Ministers of Environment, Transport, Industry, Agriculture and Agri-Food, Finance, and Natural Resources. A key part of his vision for continued prosperity was also ensuring local voices are heard and strengthening collaboration between Prairie Canadians and all orders of government.

To achieve this vision, Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) is calling for your suggestions, ideas and feedback. We want to hear about the regional economic opportunities that you believe will best position the Prairies for success, now and in the future. We want to hear what is needed to advance those opportunities, as well as your ideas for stronger collaboration.

PrairiesCan is conducting outreach in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and inviting online feedback. The feedback we receive will go into building a framework that strategically positions the Prairies for key investments that promote economic sustainability, growth and employment.

Feedback is open to all, including provincial government partners, Indigenous and municipal governments, businesses and industry groups, economic development organizations, think tanks and academia, and individual Prairie Canadians.

This discussion paper provides regional context and describes some of the economic opportunities already being pursued. Click here to jump to our discussion questions and ways you can participate.

Global food insecurity is rising, as is demand for other agricultural products. The Prairies are known as the ‘bread basket’ of Canada, and farmers and food producers are working to increase both the volume and range of products we bring to global markets. At the same time, they are taking strides to increase sustainability and lower costs by adopting innovative, cleaner technologies and implementing sustainable land management processes. The region's manufacturing sector is also increasing the value of agricultural commodities, creating new food products and ingredients, materials, and clean bio-fuels. By building out value-chains in these and other areas, communities are capturing more of the economic benefits. Canada's new Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a $3.5 billion, 5-year agreement between the federal, provincial, and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri-food, and agri-products sector.

Critical minerals are the building blocks for the green and digital economy. Global demand is growing and the Prairies has mineable deposits of many of the 31 critical minerals that have been identified by Canada.^{Endnote 9} In addition to uranium and potash, the world is looking towards the region as a dependable source of critical minerals required for clean energy, such as lithium and nickel (batteries and other energy storage), copper (solar panels and other clean technologies), rare earth elements (permanent magnets and wind turbines), and helium (coolants). The Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy will help advance opportunities on the Prairies, while providing Canada and its allies with a stable and secure supply of these valuable resources.

Innovations in our energy sector have made us a leader in areas like carbon capture, utilization and storage. Similarly, our upstream oil and gas industry is making progress to reduce methane emissions as a result of action plans and mitigation programs in Alberta and Saskatchewan. With global interest in the hydrogen economy growing, this energy expertise has positioned us to be a leading producer of clean hydrogen and early adopter of applications in areas such as transportation, heating, and power generation.

The Prairies are also home to growing digital, life science, manufacturing, and transportation sectors that are attracting investments and global partnerships. The amount of venture capital funding raised by tech firms across the Prairies has increased significantly over the past five years.^{Endnote 10}

Boosting the competitiveness of our resource sector in a low-carbon economy

The Prairies’ natural resource sector is a key driver of Canada’s economic output. The Prairies alone produce over 90% of the country’s oil and 65% of its gas,^{Endnote 11} which are a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Investors and consumers are looking for cleaner energy sources and products as the world moves towards net-zero. Manitoba already has one of the cleanest grids in the world and exports clean power. Alberta was the first province to regulate greenhouse gas emissions for large emitters and is phasing out coal-powered electricity in 2023, seven years ahead of schedule. Saskatchewan is also a world leader in adopting carbon capture to abate emissions.^{Endnote 12} The Government of Canada is supporting the transition to clean energy through a variety of programs, tax incentives, and partnerships, including the Regional Energy and Resource Tables.

Other electricity and resource producers across the Prairies are also adapting, deploying technologies to reduce or capture emissions, using cleaner energy sources, more efficient processes, and increasing sustainability in other areas, such as water-use and recycling. Similar progress is occurring in other sectors too.

Prairie firms and innovators are exploring additional future uses for the energy and other resources we already produce. For example, oil has many applications beyond combustion, such as petrochemicals, asphalt, and other materials that will still be needed in a low-carbon economy. By establishing new value-chains, Prairie industries are continuing to benefit from our resources and build-out our exports.

Strengthening communities and creating opportunities for all

Across the Prairies, communities of all sizes are tapping into opportunities created by a global economy that needs secure and reliable sources of food, cleaner energy, and other commodities. They are strengthening innovation ecosystems, supporting entrepreneurs, attracting talent and investments, and developing links to global supply chains.

Increasing economic opportunities for all is another priority. With skills and labour shortages a growing challenge, the participation of all Prairie Canadians is important, including Indigenous peoples, women, youth, 2SLGBTQQIA+, Canadians with disabilities, newcomers to Canada and immigrants, members of Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs), members of racialized communities, youth, and other underrepresented groups.

Building resilient communities and inclusive economies is key to adapting and competing for global opportunities. Across the Prairies we are seeing new collaborations to advance new growth opportunities that benefit us all.

Ways to share your ideas

This discussion paper lays out an overview of the Prairies’ economic landscape and highlights the economic progress already being pursued.

A number of in-person and virtual discussions have already occurred, with more being planned. We look forward to your feedback and ideas in response to the discussion questions provided. Below are other ways that you can participate and our discussion questions.

Please send us your ideas by June 30, 2023, using:

• Online submissions: PlaceSpeak – Building of a Green Economy in the Prairies (external link);
• Email: prairiescan.bge.dev@prairiescan.gc.ca; or
• Mail:
  Prairies Economic Development Canada
  1500-9700 Jasper Ave.
  Edmonton, AB  T5J 4H7

Consultations will continue until June 30, 2023. The input received will be used to help inform the framework, which will be tabled in Parliament by December 2023. The framework will inform future federal actions and investments, and will include regular reporting to Parliament to ensure ongoing accountability. Read more about the Act and its requirements here.

Discussion questions

1. As the world pivots to a greener economy, what are the opportunities for growth that matter most for your community and the Prairies?
2. Other countries are actively pursuing the economic opportunities and benefits created by the shift to a greener economy. To stay competitive as a region, what actions are needed now to seize the opportunities that you see for the Prairies?
3. Building a greener economy will require collective effort and leadership. How can the Government of Canada collaborate better with other governments, industry, and Prairie Canadians on the opportunities you have identified? We would like to hear examples of strong partnerships and lessons learned.
4. Economic growth that works for everyone is a goal we all aspire to. What steps can we take to include the economic participation of under-represented groups and communities across our region? For example, how do we ensure opportunities for Indigenous peoples and rural communities?
5. What does success look like for you as we work together to build a greener Prairie economy?

Annex 1: Overview of the Act

The Building a Green Prairie Economy Act was introduced as a Private Members Bill by the late Honourable Jim Carr and became law in December 2022. The Act requires the federal government to develop a framework for cooperation and engagement in the implementation of federal programs across various sectors to build a greener regional economy.

It requires consultation with provinces, municipalities, Indigenous peoples, industry, and labour organizations in the Prairie provinces. The Minister responsible for PrairiesCan will lead this work in collaboration with the Minister of Environment, the Minister of Transport, the Minister of Industry, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Natural Resources. The goal is to hear from regional partners on what they see as the key economic opportunities and priorities for the Prairies, and the supports they need to advance them.

The Act identifies six areas to promote economic sustainability, growth, and employment.

1. Improving transportation options, including for small communities;
2. Fostering jobs and skills;
3. Advancing natural infrastructure and clean energy projects;
4. Supporting  the development of clean energy in all sectors;
5. Establishing programs and projects to build a green economy; and,
6. Developing infrastructure projects for climate change adaption and mitigation.

Additional areas of focus may also be raised through consultations. PrairiesCan will advance priorities in collaboration with other federal departments.

As a first step, the Act requires that the framework be tabled in Parliament by December 2023. Two years after that, and then every five years, there will be a report to Parliament on the progress and effectiveness of the framework, including any conclusions and recommendations for improvement.

The full text of the Act can be found here.