Natural Resources

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources met to study energy security, hearing from Christian Leuprecht, a professor at the Royal Military College of Canada and Queen's University, and Alex MacDonald, associate vice president at Counsel Public Affairs, both appearing as individuals.

Christian Leuprecht argued that Canada's energy transition spending, averaging 1.1% to 1.6% of GDP annually on borrowed money, has disproportionately benefited Chinese companies by focusing on solar and wind, for which Canada depends on foreign suppliers. He stated that renewable energy expansion has been slow, with targets for 2030 out of reach, and that Canada still relies on fossil fuels for over 70% of its energy needs, recommending a realistic transition that includes heavy investment in nuclear energy and grid infrastructure while ensuring sufficient conventional energy supply. He disagreed with the notion that Quebec's electricity imports from the U.S. are a strategic advantage, calling them a policy failure, and later clashed with Mario Simard over whether those imports are profitable or a sign of dependence.

Alex MacDonald recommended that Canada begin domestic enrichment of uranium for peaceful purposes to enhance energy security and capture the economic value of its uranium resources, noting that the adoption of small modular reactors in Ontario creates a need for enriched uranium. He clarified that enrichment is compatible with non-proliferation treaties, as many non-nuclear weapon states do it, and that current global enrichment is dominated by Russia and China, making domestic capacity strategically important. He emphasized that enrichment is the highest-profit step in the uranium value chain and that without it, Canada risks repeating the mistake of not refining its own oil, adding that social licence and IAEA safeguards would be needed to address public concerns.

During questions, Leuprecht said Canada's energy policies have contributed to high prices in Europe, effectively subsidizing Russia's war in Ukraine, and that a grand bargain with Europe on defence and critical minerals could finance the transition. MacDonald noted that small modular reactors are well-suited for industrial applications like steelmaking and data centres, and that indigenous communities could benefit from equity stakes or microreactors to replace diesel in northern areas. The committee briefly discussed scheduling a future appearance by the minister, with Corey Tochor requesting a full two-hour session before the summer break.