Atlantic premiers say decision needed soon from Ottawa on regional energy loop
Atlantic Canada's premiers are looking for a decision soon from Ottawa on a proposed Atlantic Loop energy corridor, noting Wednesday that it will take time to get the massive project built and climate targets are looming.
The estimated $5-billion loop proposal would connect the four provinces to hydroelectricity from Quebec and Labrador and is seen as a key part of an alternative energy mix for the region.
Following a meeting in Pictou, N.S., host Premier Tim Houston told reporters that although talks are ongoing, the premiers need word on how or if the project can proceed.
"Time is passing," said Houston. "We need to make sure we have clarity from the federal government on their timelines and of course their financial commitment."
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey said the project needs to start "fairly quickly" because of its size and scope, adding his province can speak from its experience in getting the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project up and running.
"They (mega projects) don't happen overnight. They need significant due diligence, they need planning, they need engineering and then they need the actual construction time," Furey said.
He said it's time for a clearer plan as all provinces strive to meet aggressive climate emissions targets. "And if those goals are aspirational and not achievable, then we need to be realistic with the public as well," he said.
Furey added the provinces also need to be open-minded about alternative energy sources because the loop is only a "piece of the puzzle" when it comes to addressing energy needs and climate change.
A study released last month by the Halifax-based Ecology Action Centre backed that notion, pointing out that although the loop is important in meeting future energy demand, the region needs a balanced approach.
The study noted a mix of renewable energy would be particularly important for Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, which are the only two provinces in the region that still have coal-fired generating plants. Both provinces have committed to phasing out their coal-fired generation by 2030.
But New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs warned that his province is facing double-digit increases in electrical costs in the coming years, and there has to be room for such things as liquefied natural gas and offshore oil and gas before a full switch to green energy.
"We are seeing a renewed interest to look at some of the traditional energy sources just to get us through this patch," Higgs said.
During their meeting, the premiers also discussed issues such as the rising cost of living, immigration and health care.
Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King said talks continue on how best to share health-care resources at a time when all systems are challenged by increased wait times and shortages of medical professionals, including doctors and nurses.
"We have always been for an Atlantic approach to the overall delivery of health care," King said. "We rely on it."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 29, 2022.
By Keith Doucette in Halifax
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
"It's a bit of a complicated pattern; we've got a lot going on," said Jennifer Smith of the Meteorological Service of Canada in an interview with CTVNews.ca on Wednesday. "[As is] typical with weather, all of these things are related."
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.