Natural Resources

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources met to study Canada’s energy exports and global energy security. Appearing as witnesses were David Novog, Director of the McMaster Institute for Energy Studies; Andrew Thiele and Robert Tremblay of Energy Storage Canada; Adam Legge, President of the Business Council of Alberta; and Eric Nuttall, Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager at Ninepoint Partners.

David Novog testified that Canada’s nuclear sector faces significant workforce stresses as domestic and export demand for nuclear energy grows, with employment demands potentially tripling over the next decade due to new builds, refurbishments, and global interest. He recommended enhanced federal support for university training programs and facilities like McMaster’s research reactor, and called for urgent, sustained funding to meet future labour needs, noting that 70% of new workers will be in skilled trades.

Andrew Thiele and Robert Tremblay argued that energy storage is essential infrastructure for Canada’s electricity future and a major industrial opportunity, but noted that some storage technologies, such as thermal energy storage, are currently excluded from federal investment tax credits. They recommended optimizing those tax credits, expanding deployment programs through the Canada Infrastructure Bank and SREPs, and pairing any restrictions on high-risk foreign enterprises with industrial policy that incentivizes domestic content, rather than relying solely on bans.

Adam Legge identified the Impact Assessment Act (Bill C-69) and federal permitting systems as the largest barriers to energy exports, citing late-stage politicized decisions, duplicative reviews, excessive timelines, and unclear indigenous consultation. He called for a legislative overhaul to ensure “one project, one review, one decision” by provinces as of right, a two-stage project authorization process removing political interference, and a cultural shift within the public service to view project approvals through an economic and prosperity lens.

Eric Nuttall warned of a looming global oil supply crisis, arguing that non-OPEC production is peaking and OPEC spare capacity is nearly exhausted, creating a generational opportunity for Canada to increase exports. He urged the government to make new pipelines an urgent national priority, repeal what he called anti-development legislation such as Bill C-69 and Bill C-48, and avoid adding costs like the Pathways carbon capture project, which he opposed as unnecessary given the oil sands’ small share of global emissions.

The committee debated and adopted an amendment to a Bloc Québécois motion regarding Domtar, changing the word “summon” to “invite” for Jackson Wijaya and directing that his testimony be included in the committee’s existing forestry sector study. The motion as amended was agreed to unanimously.