The House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources met on June 11, 2026, to study Canada's electrification, energy self-sufficiency and domestic energy security. Witnesses appearing were Philippe Dunsky, former chair of the Canada Electricity Advisory Council, as an individual; Kate Harland of the Canadian Climate Institute; Moe Kabbara of The Transition Accelerator; Dr. Suzanne von der Porten of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition; and Heather Exner-Pirot of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.
Philippe Dunsky argued that Canada must both grow and clean its electricity system to remain competitive, warning that provinces are turning away business due to power shortages. He recommended building interprovincial transmission, expanding renewable power quickly, and prioritizing energy efficiency as the cheapest source of new capacity, noting that Hydro-Québec plans to free up 3,500 megawatts through efficiency alone.
Kate Harland stated that low-cost, abundant electricity is essential for economic growth and that falling costs of solar, wind and batteries make flexible clean grids viable. She recommended federal action including new interprovincial planning processes, selective use of the national balance sheet for anticipatory grid build-out, flexible clean electricity regulations, and tax tools such as capital cost allowances to mobilize on-site demand-side solutions.
Moe Kabbara argued that energy security is shifting from fuel supply to electricity systems, as countries like Pakistan and Ethiopia adopt electrification for security reasons, not climate policy. He recommended that the federal government use its AAA credit rating to lower capital costs for grid expansion, which he said needs an additional $30 billion per year, and that Canada build domestic supply chains for grid equipment to reduce import dependence.
Dr. Suzanne von der Porten stated that Canada's electrification build-out must include indigenous leadership, partnership and ownership in generation, transmission and storage, with free, prior and informed consent. She recommended that federal policies address barriers such as limited access to capital, insufficient early-stage capacity funding, and weak support for indigenous-led utility development, and she supported the indigenous loan guarantee program as a tool for competitively priced capital.
Heather Exner-Pirot argued that Canada has shifted from building electricity abundance to planning for scarcity, and that this threatens AI, LNG, critical minerals and defence supply chains. She recommended a strategy focused on growth rather than constraint, including building all types of generation, and emphasized that natural gas is indispensable for reliability and rapid expansion, particularly in Alberta, and that federal clean electricity regulations have deterred investment.
A motion was moved by Shannon Stubbs to report to the House that an Alberta oil pipeline to the west coast is in the national interest, citing support from energy CEOs and public opinion. Corey Hogan moved to adjourn debate on the motion, arguing that Alberta has not yet submitted a proposal and that the government does not want to negotiate in public; the procedural exchange did not conclude with a vote.
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