Mr. Chair, there is no doubt that in addition to renewable energy, we can and must become cleaner producers and consumers of our fossil fuel resources. It is clear that technology will play a key role in meeting this challenge. One very promising technology to achieve large emission reductions is carbon capture and storage, known as CCS.
In total, the Government of Canada and the governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia have provided $3.5 billion in funding for carbon capture and storage. This does not include the contributions of industry partners. In fact in budget 2008, the Government of Canada committed $240 million to the Boundary Dam clean coal project in my riding of Souris--Moose Mountain in the southeast part of Saskatchewan. The province of Saskatchewan will invest about $1 billion. This will be one of the world's first and largest commercial-scale clean coal and carbon capture and storage demonstration projects.
We also collaborate internationally to accelerate the development of technology. As I have said, my riding of Souris--Moose Mountain is on the leading edge of implementing world-class CCS technology. We also collaborate through the United States-Canada clean energy dialogue signed by the Prime Minister and President Obama last year. Remarkably, a reference was made to work that is being done with the North Dakota-Weyburn carbon capture and storage project in my riding near Weyburn, Saskatchewan. I certainly invite the member for Kings--Hants to visit Weyburn, Saskatchewan to see first-hand what is being done.
The Weyburn and Midale oil fields are hosts to a decade long international study examining CO2 geological storage. This project near Weyburn, Saskatchewan is one of the largest international CO2 measuring and monitoring projects in the world. It is world class.
I would like to ask the minister what steps have been taken under the dialogue with the United States to advance the development of carbon capture and storage.