OTTAWA—Rick Smith, President of the Canadian Climate Institute, made the following statement in response to the agreement between Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the federal government on the future of Churchill Falls and broader investments in clean power and transmission:
“Today’s announcement from the provinces of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador and the federal government promises to unlock an enormous amount of new reliable clean power and transmission to the benefit of people and businesses across Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and beyond.
“This is the scale of clean energy ambition that is necessary across the country in order to meet the Prime Minister’s commitment to doubling the size of Canada’s electricity grids and electrifying more of the national economy. It demonstrates that positive outcomes can be achieved through co-operation between governments, including Indigenous communities, that drives investment and leads to more interconnected provincial electricity markets.
“It also shows the critical role the federal government can play in catalyzing these types of agreements with financial support to accelerate the growth of cleaner, bigger grids that attract large industrial users with low-cost electricity. That aligns with previous research from the Canadian Climate Institute outlining the rationale for the federal government to play a larger role in growing clean power to electrify the economy. The new agreement brings much-needed investment certainty for the Churchill Falls and Gull Island hydroprojects and will spur substantial new onshore wind power projects in Newfoundland and Labrador. It will also improve energy security and affordability in a time of volatile energy price swings while driving down emissions.
“We’re pleased to see the federal government helping facilitate the development of this deal and look forward to seeing more positive developments in other regions of the country that unlock more affordable clean power. As work on these projects move from agreement-in-principle to design and development, it will also be crucial that Indigenous rights holders are meaningfully included in the decision-making process.”
RESOURCES
- Report | Power Play: How to supercharge Canada’s clean electricity advantage
- Report | Policy brief: Powering Canada Forward Fund
- Blog | How Canada can build electricity transmission to unlock nation-building projects
- Insight | The big switch in Canada’s electricity emissions
- Report | TheBig Switch: Powering Canada’s net zero future
MEDIA CONTACTS
Claudine Brulé (Eastern Time, French/English)
Lead, Communications and External Relations
(226) 212-9883
cbrule@climateinstitute.ca
Krystal Northey (Mountain Time, English)
Lead, Public Affairs
knorthey@climateinstitute.ca
(226) 212 9883
ABOUT US
The Canadian Climate Institute is an independent climate policy research organization that produces rigorous research, analysis, and economic modelling, drawing on experts and leaders across the country. Our work focuses on: accelerating clean growth and low-carbon competitiveness; measuring progress in Canada’s clean energy transition; amplifying Indigenous perspectives and climate solutions; unlocking sustainable investment; and making our economy and infrastructure more resilient to a warming climate.
