Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami/Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616
Ottawa – Speaker Nancy Pelosi released this statement following a meeting with Canadian cabinet ministers and provincial leaders hosted by U.S. Ambassador David Jacobson. The Speaker is in Canada for the annual G8 Speaker’s Conference, which begins tomorrow. In addition to the G8 formal sessions and bilateral meetings, Pelosi, along with Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming Ed Markey of Massachusetts, are meeting with various stakeholders on energy security and other issues of mutual concern.
“Tonight’s discussion confirmed that the United States and Canada share a strong commitment to addressing climate change and energy security. We share much more than a border, and with respect to our energy future, we are in the same boat.
“Our discussion focused on more than the oil sands issue; we discussed the need for aggressive research and development on renewable energy and conservation technology. Our mutual clean energy goals will drive innovation and create millions of jobs on both sides of the border.
“I thank Ambassador Jacobson for bringing together the leading political leaders in Canada to begin our discussions on these urgent issues.
“Tomorrow, Chairman Markey and I will continue our discussions with our friends in the Canadian government as well as representatives from the environmental community, First Nations and the energy sector. As I said tonight, we have come to listen and learn, and we look forward to continuing this productive bilateral dialogue and establishing a continental approach to our energy security.”