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Energy

Faced with climate change and diminishing resources globally, we are at a critical juncture for energy policy. Now, more than ever, we need a Canadian Energy Strategy that ensures energy security and helps transition to sustainable energy production and consumption. Instead, Canada is taking a “free market” approach to the oil and gas industry with no energy strategy that addresses where our energy comes from, where it is going, or the high price of environmental devastation that comes with producing it. Governments have signed this control away through multilateral agreements such as NAFTA and the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP).

Canada now produces about 40 per cent more oil than it consumes, yet Quebec and Atlantic Canada rely on imports to meet 90 per cent of their oil needs. Thanks to NAFTA, Canada now exports two-thirds of the oil and close to 60 per cent of the natural gas produced each year to the U.S. Market forces alone cannot satisfy essential national energy requirements; our government must assume more responsibility for performing this role.

The Council of Canadians believe we need a Canadian Energy Strategy that gives Canadians security of their energy supplies, guaranteed access to energy reserves in times of need, and strong policies that protect our environment and focus on transitioning to sustainable energy production and consumption. Without a strategy, our country will continue to be a victim of an energy gold rush.

Learn more from our Energy Fact Sheets and other publications »

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Kyotoplus: Climate action now! petition

We must have urgent action on climate change to meet energy security needs in a sustainable manner. Committing to emission reduction targets is an essential step. As a member of Kyotoplus, the Council of Canadians is encouraging concerned Canadians to sign the “Kyotoplus: climate action now!” petition demanding Canadian politicians support important goals - Read more »

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Prominent Canadian Artists, Athletes, Activists and Community Leaders to Obama: Green jobs, yes we can. Tar sands, no we can’t

Over 50 prominent Canadians have signed an open letter telling Obama that the tar sands don’t fit in the new energy economy. “We must look at the bigger picture and see the consequences of relying on the tar sands as an economic driver” says Maude Barlow,  Chairperson for the Council of Canadians, Senior Advisor on Water to the President of the UN General Assembly and signatory to the letter.

Click here to read the letter »

Click here to read a letter from 19 organizations in the United States and Canada to Secretary Steven Chu, U.S. Department of Energy, and Lisa Jackson, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency »

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The Council of Canadians has presented a written submission to the Ontario Government as part of the public consultation process to modernize the Ontario Mining Act.  

The Council joins numerous First Nations, environmental and social justice organizations in describing the Ontario Mining Act as not suitable for ensuring the fair and sustainable extraction of natural resources in this province. We demand a more open and democratic Mining Act that balances environmental concerns and the needs of communities with the desires of mining companies. Uranium mining is an issue of special interest to our organization given significant public health and water contamination risks and other social and environmental consequences associated with all stages of development. Council of Canadians chapters across the country have actively opposed uranium mining by organizing public events, collecting signatures and supporting legislative moratoriums and bans.

Read the Council of Canadians submission »

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NAFTA 101
with Prof. Saurus

Learn why Nafta Saurus loves NAFTA so much; and why 61% of Canadians agree that NAFTA should be renegotiated to include enforceable labour and environmental standards

View Flash »

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The Council of Canadians has intervener standing in the proceeding before the Ontario Energy Board on the proposed Integrated Power System Plan (IPSP).  The Harris government dismantled Ontario Hydro, but the largest portion of its generation and transmission assets are still in public hands. The McGuinty government will now decide whether it can achieve its energy security and conservation goals by continuing with policies of privatization, de-regulated market reform, and increasing integration with the US. 

The Council of Canadians has produced three expert reports for the IPSP hearings. Two of these were written by Canada’s leading experts on free trade and the electricity sector. These point out the folly of the government’s present course given the severe constraints imposed by NAFTA and US electricity sector rules constrains the authority of provincial regulators, undermines Ontario energy security; and pave the way for higher energy costs.  

The third report offers an alternative.  It presents a real plan for Canadian energy security and cooperation - a regional transmission grid that would provide for the integration of Ontario’s power system with other provinces, rather than the US. There are a number of other interveners raising concerns with the plan including questions of environmental sustainability, First Nations grievances and concerns with support for nuclear energy expansion.   Click here (PDF 8MB) to read the evidence of the Council of Canadians before the Ontario Energy Board. 

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On May 14, 2007, the Council of Canadians’ Lyn Gorman made a presentation to the Alberta Royalty Review Panel, arguing that the current royalty regime is “outdated,” and “does not serve the long-term interests of Albertans.” The impartial panel was appointed by the Alberta government in February 2007 to complete a thorough review of the province’s royalties and taxes on energy. Click here to read the presentation.

Energy position paper (PDF) - Drafted by the Council of Canadians’ Board-Staff Committee on Energy, August 2007

FEATURES

ACTION ALERT: Tell Hillary Clinton “no permits for tar sands pipelines!”

Separating truth from greenwashing in the West's energy export boom
As an energy strategy, emphasizing energy exports raises a number of serious social and environmental concerns, as Alberta's tar sands 'gold rush' has shown.
Andrea Harden-Donahue, Rabble.ca, June 24, 2009

ACTION ALERT: Tell the Harper government to stop the trade-based threats and start getting serious about the tar sands

Not Green, Not Public, Not for Us, Maude Barlow. Please forward to your friends and families who care about the future of BC

More than 50 grassroots organizations reject energy privatization policy, May 7, 2009

Anchorage Declaration of the Indigenous Peoples' Global Summit on Climate Change

Council of Canadians joins energy action coalition in rejecting award for the Alberta government’s CCS initiative, March 2009

Budget 2009 and Energy - Overall, this budget has failed to capitalize on the opportunity to address both the economic and environmental crisis by facilitating the expansion of ‘green jobs.’ More »

Council of Canadians statement on nuclear power and uranium mining, October 2008

VIDEO: CBC News Sunday presents Chile's Eco-Controversy, including an interview with Stuart Trew, Ontario-Quebec regional organizer. March 1, 2009

VIDEO: CPAC's Prime Time Politics covers Maude Barlow speaking in Ottawa to outline hopes for this week's visit to Canada by U.S. President Barack Obama, February 17, 2009 (Starting at approx. 21:30 minutes)

Susan Casey-Leflkowitz, Senior Attorney, International Program Natural Resources Defense Council comments on the binational poll on energy strategy commissioned by the Council of Canadians, February 9, 2009

VIDEO: CPAC's Prime Time Politics covers The Council of Canadians' Energy Day of Action, February 4, 2009 (Starting at approx. 59 minutes)

It's time for a green New Deal, Maude Barlow and Mary Corkery, Rabble.ca , January 26, 2009

ACTION ALERT: Time For A Green New Deal

Council of Canadians blasts Alta. gov't, Fort McMurray Today, December 15, 2008

RADICAL NEW AGENDA NEEDED TO ACHIEVE CLIMATE JUSTICE - Poznan statement from the Climate Justice Now! alliance, December 12, 2008

Turning Of the Power of Energy Integration, Canadian Perspectives, Autumn 2008

Why the Energy Gold Rush Won't Pan Out: Canadians need a sustainable energy future, Canadian Perspectives, Autumn 2008

The Energy Sustainability Dilemma: Powering the Future in a Finite World, J. David Hughes

COAL: Some Inconvenient Truths, J. David Hughes

ACTION ALERT: Like oil and water, the tar sands and climate change action don't mix

An Energy Gold Rush: The SPP hands control of Canada’s energy to the oil and gas industry, Canadian Perspectives, Spring 2008

Why We Need a Canadian Energy Strategy, Canadian Perspectives, Spring 2008

[20-Mar-08] BC activists call for no new approvals after visit to Alberta tar sands

[18-Mar-08] BC groups to report on “learning tour” of the Alberta tar sands

Stop the injustice: Overhaul Ontario's mining laws and policiesJoint statement on Ontario's mining act, March 17, 2008

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updated June 29, 2009