The federal government has launched an independent advisory council to provide recommendations on achieving a net-zero electricity grid in Canada.

The 19-member Canada Electricity Advisory Council will advise Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson over the next year on policy and investments needed to reach Canada’s goals of net-zero emissions in the electricity sector by 2035 and economy-wide by 2050.

The council will provide recommendations to accelerate investment in sustainable, affordable and reliable electricity systems, the minister’s office said on Tuesday. It will draw on work by provinces and territories, utilities and Indigenous groups and at the end of its term, the council will release a report with analyses and recommendations for Wilkinson.

“Canada’s clean grid is already a competitive advantage — it helped us land the Volkswagen deal. And to ensure that we can continue to attract investment and create more good, middle-class jobs, we need to keep increasing the supply of reliable, clean and affordable power right across Canada,” Wilkinson said in a statement.

“The Electricity Council will help us build the grid we need by providing independent, expert advice on how to both grow and decarbonize Canada’s electricity systems — in collaboration with the provinces and territories and with Indigenous partners,” he added.

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Council chair Philippe Dunsky, president of Dunsky Energy Climate Advisors, said clean electricity will be central to Canada’s transition to clean energy. “I look forward to working with Council members to define the big moves needed to ensure that necessary infrastructure can be built in ways that are timely, affordable and sustainable,” Dunsky said.

The council’s members include utility executives, policy experts, Indigenous leaders and others with experience in Canada’s electricity systems:

• Lesley Gallinger, President and CEO, IESO
• Darlene Whalen, Former Chair and CEO, NL Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities
• Wendy Franks, Executive VP, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Hydrogen BU, Northland Power
• Bruce Lourie, President, Ivey Foundation
• Jason Dion, Senior Research Director, Canadian Climate Institute
• John Gaudet, Former CEO, Maritime Electric
• Gerry Forrest, Principal at Forkast Energy and Regulatory Consulting, former Chair of MB Public Utilities Commission
• Greg Robart, CEO, Smart Grid Innovation Network
• Tim Eckel, VP, Energy Transition and Asset Management, SaskPower
• Grant Sullivan, President, Nihtat Energy Ltd.
• Stephen MacDonald, CEO, EfficiencyOne
• Emily Whetung MacInnes, Chief Emeritus, Curve Lake First Nation
• Bob Elton, Former President and CEO of BC Hydro
• Kerry O’Reilly Wilks, Executive VP, Legal, Commercial and External Affairs, TransAlta
• Chief Sharleen Gale, Chief Councillor Fort Nelson First Nation and Chair of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition
• Pete Bothwell, VP, Customer Experience and Initiatives, ATCO
• Judith Ferguson, Executive VP, Regulatory, Legal and Government Relations, Nova Scotia Power
• Stéphanie Trudeau, Executive Vice President Quebec at Énergir

The federal government committed $15 billion for clean power in Budget 2022, including tax credits for renewable energy generation and loans for utilities from the Canada Infrastructure Bank. The Electricity Council will advise on how to allocate those funds.

Today, Minister Wilkinson launched the Canada Electricity Advisory Council. The Advisory Council will provide advice to accelerate investment and promote sustainable, affordable and reliable electricity systems.

Learn more: https://t.co/ecTounORUM #SmartGrids pic.twitter.com/TvmDszxZ18

— Natural Resources (@NRCan) May 5, 2023

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