The House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources met to study energy security in Canada, hearing from representatives of the Canadian Gas Association, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and Inuvialuit Petroleum Corporation, the Montreal Economic Institute, Electric Mobility Canada, Electricity Canada, and the Nova Scotia Independent Energy System Operator.
Paul Cheliak of the Canadian Gas Association said natural gas use in Canada has risen 63% in 15 years while electricity use grew only 0.7% annually, and that electrification policies risk overwhelming peak demand because the average home uses six times more energy in winter than summer. He recommended that federal electrification programs undergo a reliability test, that the government publish a national policy statement on natural gas, and that dual-fuel heating—pairing a natural gas furnace with an electric heat pump—be made an essential component of peak mitigation.
Piers Kreps and Travis Balaski of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and Inuvialuit Petroleum Corporation described the Inuvialuit energy security project, a gas plant under construction that will produce natural gas and synthetic fuels for power, heating and transportation in the western Arctic, reducing reliance on expensive imported fuel and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. They said the project took four years of federal permitting, which they called far too long, and that while they have funding from the Canada Infrastructure Bank, they still lack clarity on how federal programs such as the indigenous loan guarantee program work together, and they urged reduced capital burden and clearer financial support.
Renaud Brossard and Gabriel Giguère of the Montreal Economic Institute argued that Canada’s best path to energy security is allowing producers to stabilize global supply through new export infrastructure, and that the current project assessment process under Bill C-69 is arbitrary and has killed business cases for projects such as GNL Québec. They said a liquefied natural gas terminal on the east coast, such as the one proposed in Baie-Comeau, could serve European markets in eight shipping days versus 26 from British Columbia, and they called for a predictable regulatory framework that eliminates duplication and ministerial discretion.
Daniel Breton of Electric Mobility Canada said the transportation electrification sector now employs over 130,000 workers and that electric vehicles, by charging mostly overnight, improve grid utilization rather than straining it, and that electricity prices are regional and stable while fuel prices are volatile. He argued that electrification makes Canada more economically resilient, creates local jobs that cannot be offshored, and could save billions in health costs from reduced air pollution.
Michael Powell of Electricity Canada said Canada’s electricity system must double in size by 2050 at a cost of $2 trillion, and that the government’s new electricity strategy and regulatory reform proposals are welcome but must be matched with execution. He called for a regulatory system that speeds approvals for all electricity projects, not just the largest ones; for better interconnections between provinces; for extending investment tax credits to intraprovincial transmission; and for continued action on workforce development, supply chain security and grid hardening against cyber and weather threats.
Chris Milligan of the Nova Scotia Independent Energy System Operator said Nova Scotia is phasing out coal, targeting 80% renewable energy by 2030, and that a new peak demand record in January 2025 confirmed the urgent need for new resources including fast-acting natural gas, energy storage and wind. He said federal funding programs such as the smart renewables and electrification pathways program and the Canada Infrastructure Bank have been integral to enabling projects, and that the new national electricity strategy and clarity on emissions policy will help unlock investment in balancing resources needed to integrate wind.
The committee heard questions from members on topics including the impact of Bill C-69 on investment, the role of natural gas in Quebec’s energy mix, the cost and permitting timelines for northern projects, the value of interprovincial electricity links such as the maritime link, and the feasibility of electric vehicle mandates and charging infrastructure in rural areas. No procedural debate, motions or votes occurred during this meeting.
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