The Canadian electricity sector was once considered a traditional and conservative sector with almost no appetite for risk-taking.  However, in recent years, the sector has become a force to be reckoned with when it comes to innovation and sustainability. But what does sustainability really mean in the context of our nation’s electric energy supply? Sustainability encompasses everything from environmental stewardship to social responsibility and economic excellence.  However, there isn’t just one quick fix to solving sustainability challenges. Sustainability is achieved through strong leadership, commitment, innovation and long-term planning and vision. And increasingly, the electricity sector is moving in that direction. The electricity sector has made significant progress in the implementation of sustainable practices in recent years. A review of performance… Continue reading →

The federal government announced last week that it would table its 2013 budget on Thursday, March 21, 2013. As the voice of Canada’s electricity sector, the Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) participated in pre-budget consultations this past summer. We are eager to see if the budget will address some of the barriers faced by the sector, in particular, skilled labour shortages. A modern and reliable electricity sector is a determining factor in Canada’s overall economic productivity. The sector contributed $24.6 billion to the Canadian economy in 2010, and employed more than 108,000 workers. However, according to the International Energy Agency, Canada needs to invest significantly in refurbished or new electricity infrastructure by 2030 in order to maintain system reliability. A 2012… Continue reading →

Energy development in northern Canada has emerged as a critical part of securing the economic future of the region and for Canada as a whole. Several weeks ago, I met with a delegation from the Northwest Territories (NWT), including Premier Bob McLeod, to discuss the electricity needs of the North.  In addition, I flew to Yellowknife in late 2012 to take part in an “Energy Charrette” where 125 stakeholders and members of the public explored options for the NWT’s energy future.  You can read the Final Report from the Charette by clicking here. These meetings made it very clear that there are enormous opportunities and challenges in Canada’s north when it comes to energy development.  The region stands at the… Continue reading →

I’ve arrived in Halifax to help launch Electricity Week in this province. Over the coming days, I’ll meet with editorial boards, participate in roundtable discussions, attend various open-house events at power utilities, and speak to audiences in both Halifax and Sydney. I’ll use the occasion to raise a tough question that everyone across the country needs to ask: Are we getting value for the money we pay for electricity? It’s a question I’ll raise in jurisdictions across Canada over the coming months, but Nova Scotia is certainly a good place to start. On a daily overall average, a Nova Scotian household spends $4.21 on electricity.  Obviously this varies, depending on what kind of house you live in, what appliances you… Continue reading →

Several weeks ago, I presented a speech at the Economic Club of Canada that spoke to the importance of electricity in our lives, and how we tend to take it for granted. While I was speaking that day, there were millions of people in the Northeast United States who certainly were not taking electricity for granted: when Hurricane Sandy slammed into the East Coast that week, some 9.6 million people along the seaboard were left without power. The storm demonstrated the awesome force of nature and its ability to sweep aside what human beings can build. At the same time, it proved the resourcefulness and the determination of humanity – how capable we are of taking care of one another…. Continue reading →