Question Period Note: The Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy

The Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy

• I’m pleased to have tabled the Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy last December.
• Since then, we have made progress on our commitment to working differently, by increasing coordination among federal departments, and collaborating more closely with Prairie governments, businesses and communities for a prosperous and sustainable Prairie economy.
• My colleagues and I have launched projects in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba that meet the ambitions of our colleague, the late Honourable Jim Carr, who sponsored the Building the Green Prairie Economy Act.
• He saw this legislation as a way for governments, industry, and communities to collaborate for a prosperous economic future for the Prairies. And so it is, as we are moving forward on the priorities of regional partners to achieve the Framework’s vision of a green Prairie economy that is prosperous, sustainable and benefits all people living and working on the Prairies.
• PrairiesCan has committed $100 million of our funding to advance the Framework’s priorities.
• To date, these investments include:
o $10 million towards NFI Group’s expanded manufacturing of zero-emission buses in Winnipeg;
o Nearly, $19 million for the Saskatchewan Research Council’s Rare Earth Element Processing Facility in Saskatoon; and,
o $4 million for Calgary-based Kuva Canada’s methane monitoring technologies.
• Other federal departments are also investing in Prairie projects and standing up new clean growth programs like the Sustainable Jobs Training Fund (ESDC) and Critical Mineral Infrastructure Fund (NRCan), while new Clean Economy Investment Tax Credits have been finalized.
• I look forward to reporting back to this house on our progress in the first parliamentary report, due in December 2025.

If prompted on the Framework’s priorities
• The Framework was developed with widespread input from stakeholders and people living and working on the Prairies.
• The Framework identified five (5) priority areas for implementation, which are
o Growing Key regional sectors including natural resources, agriculture and manufacturing,
o Effective movement of goods people and information,
o Expanding and capitalizing on clean electricity,
o Community economic development, and
o Economic reconciliation and inclusive growth.

If prompted on federal collaboration
• Achieving the Framework’s aims needs a collaborative and horizontal approach among federal departments.
• We are putting a Prairies focus on issues that relate to the mandates and programs of PrairiesCan and the nine (9) federal departments included in the Framework.
o Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada,
o Employment and Social Development Canada,
o Environment and Climate Change Canada,
o Finance Canada,
o Housing Infrastructure and Communities Canada,
o Innovation, Science and Industry Canada,
o Indigenous Services Canada,
o Natural Resources Canada, and
o Transport Canada.
• We are also collaborating with other Federal agencies such as the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) and Invest in Canada.

If prompted on federal-provincial collaboration
• The Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy is about being place-based: respecting jurisdictions and strengthening local collaboration to advance regional economic opportunities.
• Provinces are important partners to achieve the aim of this Act. I will continue to engage my provincial counterparts on this initiative.

If prompted on collaboration with Indigenous partners
• Meaningful engagement and collaboration with Indigenous partners
are essential to the successful implementation of this Framework.
• We will continue to pursue coordinated opportunities that support economic inclusivity and reconciliation, including local and place-based economic development in Indigenous and rural communities on the Prairies.