Minister Carr Launches Generation Energy Council Report

June 28, 2018 - Winnipeg - Natural Resources Canada

A worldwide transformation to a low-carbon future is underway, and Canadians want to play an active role in creating it. They expect bold leadership and action from all facets of society in charting an affordable, reliable and inclusive course for Canada’s energy future.

Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Jim Carr, today launched the Generation Energy Council’s report, which sets out pathways to lead Canada to a sustainable low-carbon future.

Canada’s Energy Transition: Getting to Our Energy Future, Together acknowledges that it is this generation’s responsibility to prepare for the energy transition and provides a vision that the next generation of Canadians can realize.

The Council, which Minister Carr established in December 2017 to build on the discussions of last October’s Generation Energy Forum in Winnipeg, is made up of energy thought leaders with diverse perspectives and expertise on Canada’s energy systems.

Their report outlines four transition pathways — energy efficiency, clean power, renewable fuels and cleaner oil and gas — to a low-carbon economy. The report also takes the challenge and opportunity of reconciliation seriously and highlights the central role of Indigenous communities in the transition.

Finally, the report provides advice on how we can work at all levels of government to lead the energy transition, drive change across the energy sector and empower Canadians to play a central role in actions that will shape energy for future generations.

The Generation Energy Forum brought together more than 600 experts and industry representatives from traditional and emerging energy sectors, alongside Indigenous and community leaders from across the country and around the globe. The forum was the culmination of a six-month engagement process that touched more than 380,000 people through online participation, as well as in-person panels and workshops. Canadians from coast to coast shared their vision for Canada’s low-carbon energy future.

The Council’s report, as well as feedback from the forum and the “Conversation of a Generation” online and in-person consultation, will help define Canada’s energy future for the next generation as the Government develops an energy policy direction to complement the work being done by the provinces and territories.

The report will be an important contribution to the discussion at the upcoming Energy and Mines Ministers Meeting in August. It will also help to showcase the work Canada has done on the energy transition as we meet with our international counterparts at the upcoming G7 ministerial and as Canada hosts the 2019 Clean Energy Ministerial.