CEA: Canada needs to invest now

Pan-Canadian Energy Strategy: CEA urges investment in electricity infrastructure, harmonized standards, smart grid upgrades, and EV charging to renew aging assets, boost system reliability, create jobs, and drive low-carbon economic growth across provinces.

OTTAWA, Ontario – Recently, the Canadian Electricity Association CEA released a white paper urging decision makers to ensure electricity forms the backbone of a pan-Canadian energy strategy.

While CEA is encouraged by the striking of a working group led by Alberta Premier Alison Redford, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Kathy Dunderdale, and Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger and that some progress toward building on the 2007 action plan has been established, CEA is disappointed that more defined action could not be achieved, particularly with respect to electricity as it is essential to the Canadian economy and to the future of the power grid nationwide for competitiveness, as a whole.

A recent Senate Report, "Now or Never" confirmed that electricity is an essential part of the energy strategy. “Canada needs to invest significantly in refurbished and new electricity infrastructure in order to maintain system reliability, advance mandatory reliability standards across provinces,” said Jim Burpee, President and CEO of CEA.

“A pan-Canadian approach on energy would support harmonized standards for system efficiency and targeted energy efficiency measures to reduce demand, the progress of the smart grid, and the development of electric vehicle infrastructure as we transition to a low-carbon economy.”

Canada’s electricity system was built 30 to 60 years ago, and must now be renewed in order to maintain system reliability and the capacity to support economic development. With billions of dollars of investment at stake and the need for policies that enable greater electricity investments across Canada, and hundreds of thousands of jobs on the line, CEA is calling on the Premiers and their provincial energy ministers to work towards a pan-Canadian energy strategy that is sensitive to jurisdiction and advances regulatory reform for approvals but also understands that investing in our electricity system for the next generation creates the backbone for economic growth and prosperity across the country.

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