Canada Appoints Members of Joint Canada-U.S. Task Force

OTTAWA -- - Minister of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) Herb Dhaliwal today announced the Canadian members appointed to the joint Canada-U.S. Task Force, which will identify the causes for the recent power outage that affected North America and seek recommendations to help prevent future outages.

Minister Dhaliwal is the co-chair of the Task Force. The other members are Deputy Prime Minister John Manley in his capacity as Minister responsible for Border and Security Issues, Mr. Kenneth Vollman, Chairman of the National Energy Board, and Ms. Linda J. Keen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.

These individuals will join American representatives Tom Ridge, Secretary of Homeland Security, Pat Wood, Chairman of the Federal Regulatory Commission, and Nils J. Diaz, Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, appointed by U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham, who is co-chairing the Task Force with Minister Dhaliwal. The co-chairs also announced the appointments of Dr. Nawal Kamel, on behalf of Natural Resources Canada, and Jimmy Glotfelty, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy, as coordinators of the Task Force's work.

"We have brought together an experienced and committed team to work on this issue," said Minister Dhaliwal. "I am confident these individuals will provide us with a thorough analysis of the reasons for the outage and, most importantly, find solutions that will allow us to restore and protect the integrity and reliability of our international transmission system."

In conducting the review, the Task Force and its working groups will seek the close cooperation and active input of provinces and states, which have most of the direct responsibility for electricity systems. As well, energy providers, regulators, technical experts and engineers will be asked to contribute to the work of the Task Force.

"A joint Task Force is an effective way to analyze the situation that affected so many people on both sides of the border," said Minister Dhaliwal. "Our Governments want to reassure our citizens that we will do everything possible to help ensure that this situation will not happen again."