We aim to generate the equivalent of 100% of our electricity consumption from renewable resources by 2020
Connections between Scotland and Canada go back centuries across exploration, politics, education and literature. In almost every walk of life you can trace Scottish connections here in Canada. That’s not surprising when you consider the generations of Scots who have ventured to Canada’s shores, playing their part in making Canada what it is today.
And if you compare the population of Scotland – at just over five million – to the five million Scottish diaspora here in Canada, you could argue it is very much Scotland’s home away from home.
Our trading partnerships in the modern day are focused on science and technology and, of course, energy. Building on these trade and commerce connections and creating new relationships based on opportunities that will benefit both countries now and in the future is what is important to Scotland.
We share key strengths, resources and expertise in some of the world’s most exciting and promising sectors and should exploit every opportunity to strengthen our business partnerships for mutual gain.
Energy, for example, is a sector where we have a common interest and significant shared expertise as well as natural assets in abundance.
Close to 30% of the oil and gas produced in the North Sea is recovered by Canadian companies based in and around Aberdeen. With up to 24 billion barrels of oil and a potential wholesale value of up to $2.3 trillion still to be recovered, our partnership is one we can develop for many years to come.
Oil and gas aside, in Scotland we are focused on moving to a low-carbon economy for economic and environmental gain. Our coastlines offer 25% of Europe’s offshore wind resources and 10% of its tidal power, so there is no surprise that we are investing heavily to develop a globally competitive renewables sector that maximizes these natural resources.
We aim to generate the equivalent of 100% of our electricity consumption from renewable resources by 2020 and expect offshore wind alone to secure billions of pounds of investment and generate tens of thousands of highly skilled jobs for Scotland. B.C. already generates 90% of its electricity from clean or renewable sources, and the sector is clearly a key contributor to your green economy.
Together, these factors represent massive opportunity for collaboration and investment.
Energy is just one of the sectors where there are opportunities for us to work together. We have some real strengths and connections in food and drink, life sciences and digital media. In food and drink, for example, we share common ground as leading global salmon producers.
In Scotland, we are seeing record levels of salmon exports – in particular to the Far East, where levels have increased by more than 1,000% in the last three years.
The sector has been one of the stars of the Scottish economy in recent years, and we want to expand it by building on Scotland’s provenance and focus on luxury and premium markets worldwide, especially whisky, seafood and salmon.
And in life sciences, just as British Columbia is recognized as one of Canada’s most successful biotechnology centres, Scotland is a world leader in research and breakthrough discoveries like Angiotech’s coronary stent. Scotland continues to excel in areas such as stem cells and medical technology.
Canada will remain one of our biggest investment and trade partners, and organizations like ScotCanBC are on the ground here, ready to help companies in the region capitalize on this relationship. There are approximately 295 Canadian-owned business sites in the U.K., with an estimated 75 sites in Scotland. We are ready to share our skilled industry clusters, a pro-R&D environment and private-public-academic collaborations across high-growth industries for the mutual benefit of Scotland and Canada. •
