Government of Canada’s new discussion paper, Powering Canada Strong: A National Strategy for an Electrified Canadian Economy, which sets out a vision to strengthen Canada’s electricity system, support economic growth, and ensure Canadians have access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy for decades to come.
The strategy recognizes that Canada’s electricity demand is expected to double by 2050 as industries grow, transportation and buildings become increasingly electrified, and emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and advanced manufacturing expand across the country.
“Canada’s economic future depends on building the infrastructure needed to support growing communities, attract investment, and create good-paying jobs,” said Sonia Sidhu, MP for Brampton South. “This national strategy is about ensuring Canadian families and businesses have access to affordable and reliable electricity while strengthening our economy, supporting innovation, and building a more resilient energy future.”
Canada currently benefits from one of the most affordable and clean electricity systems in the world, with among the lowest residential and industrial electricity costs in the G7 and a high share of non-emitting electricity generation. The federal strategy aims to build on these strengths by modernizing the grid, supporting infrastructure development, encouraging interprovincial cooperation, and accelerating electrification across the economy.
Key areas of focus include:
- Building and modernizing the electricity system to meet rising demand.
- Supporting long-term financing to maintain affordability for Canadians.
- Strengthening regional electricity connections between provinces and territories.
- Streamlining regulatory processes to support timely infrastructure development.
- Investing in skilled trades, workforce development, and domestic manufacturing.
- Advancing energy efficiency and grid modernization to lower costs and improve reliability.
The strategy also outlines how electrification can help lower emissions while reducing overall energy costs for many Canadian households through improved energy efficiency. According to the discussion paper, the right investments could help Canadians save billions of dollars in energy costs over the coming decades.
“As our communities continue to grow, we must ensure our energy systems grow with them,” added Sidhu. “By working collaboratively with provinces, territories, Indigenous partners, industry, and local communities, we can build the infrastructure needed to keep Canada competitive, secure, and prosperous.”
The Government of Canada is seeking input from Canadians, provinces, territories, Indigenous partners, utilities, industry, labour organizations, and other stakeholders as it develops the national strategy.
