EnergyCouncilCanada_web

BVM: Butonceyou’vearticulatedthosegoals,who actuallyputs thepolicies inplace toachieve them? Campbell: “InCanada,ourprovinces,ofwhichwehave ten,areautonomouswhen it comes toenergywithin their jurisdiction.So,theProvinceofAlberta,theProvince ofOntario,set theenergypolicy,thegeneral direction that energygenerationwill take inthe future-pricing, andmatters relatingtohowcarbonemissionswill be eliminatedor reducedbypolicymeasures,regulation, or incentives.So,eachprovince inCanada looksafter thatonbehalf of thecitizenswithinthat jurisdiction. The federal governmenthasoverviewwhenthere’s tradebetweentwoneighboring jurisdictions,between twoprovinces,for example,orbetweenCanadaandthe UnitedStates,andthe federal government sets targets for thecountrythathave tobemet inorder to fulfill our international obligations.So,jurisdictionally,thebulkof the responsibilityfallswithprovincial governments,and weneedtoprovideawaytobringall those initiatives together,addthemup,reportonthem,andput them forwardfor the federal government toput forward in international discussion.” BVM: Canyouelaborateonthat–thediscussion? Campbell: “Aspartof theUnitedNationsConference ofParties (COP) process,eachcountryhas identifiedthe contributions that theymightbeable tomake toemis- sions reduction; it’scalledthe INDCs (IntendedNationally DeterminedContributions),andtheywereagreedto in theNovember2015Conferenceof theParties inParis –themilestoneCOP,aswecall it,thatoccurredat that time.At thatpoint,Canadaput forwardgoals thatwere a reductionof30percentof our emissionsby2030; so30/30,ifyou like,all relative toour emission level in 2005. “So,whereweare inCanada,is that several of our provinceshavemovedforwardwithclimatepolicy initiativesandmanyof themareworld-leading.Wehave a fuel-basedcarbontaxinBC;wehavea regulatorylimit oncarbon inAlberta that’s justbeenrecentlyupdated; Saskatchewan is investing intechnologyfor carbon captureandstorage;Ontariohaseliminatedcoal from itselectricitygenerationmixand it’sengaging inacap andtradesystem;Quebectradesemissioncreditswith California;NovaScotiahasalreadyreduced itsemissions by36percent relative tothe30percent target,sothey’re there,already,largelybychangingtheelectricitygenera- tionmixwithintheir jurisdiction. “But,all of that,takentogether,province,byprovince,by province,doesnot fulfill the federal target that’sbeenset intheCOPprocess.So,workisafootnow,toseewhat can bedone tomeet thathigher level goal,taking full ad- vantageofwhat theprovincesaredoing,andalsowhat needs tobedoneat the federal level,going forward.” BVM: Speakingofgoing forward,canyousumup Canada’senergyoutlook? Campbell: “The resourcebaseofCanada,when it comes toenergy,is staggering;we’re theenvyof the world.So,energywill continue tobeasourceof econom- icgrowth,regional development,jobs,etc.inCanada.And, we’reproudof that; it’saCanadianstrength.” THE ENERGY COUNCIL OF CANADA