People across Canada overwhelmingly support clean electricity and renewable energy. Government should listen and reject changes to clean electricity regulations that would add emissions to the grid.
Climate policies need support from the public to work. People across Canada from different demographics, geographies, and political affiliations overwhelmingly support clean electricity and renewable energy, according to recent polls and consultations.
Postmedia reviewed submissions to the federal government’s proposed clean-electricity regulations. The intent of the regulations is to get Canada’s electricity system to achieve net-zero emissions by 2035. The review found that Canadians supported the regulations by a nearly two-to-one margin compared to the number of those who opposed. In sharp contrast, two-thirds of responses from fossil fuel companies and power providers—who have a vested interest in opposing rules that phase out fossil fuels—were critical of the policy.
The proposed changes threaten to weaken and delay this cornerstone climate policy which we need to instead see strengthened and finalized this summer.
This fits with July 2023 research by Abacus Data that similarly found a large majority—71 per cent—of Canadians favour the regulations. Even in less supportive provinces, those in favour remain high: Alberta at 64 per cent, and Saskatchewan and Manitoba at 68 per cent.
Another poll from January 2023, also by Abacus Data, found a majority of Canadians believe an energy system based on renewable sources is more affordable and reliable than one based on fossil fuels. About two-thirds of those surveyed said they think a clean energy system that includes hydro, wind, solar power, and electric vehicles would be a more secure system where prices and supply are subject to less influence from global markets.
At the David Suzuki Foundation, we often hear from people from all walks of life about how they support not just clean electricity regulations, but solar, wind, and renewable energy solutions generally.
I want to act now, not in one or two or 20 years.
We’re sent comments like this: “I am a family doctor from Ottawa, and the mother of a young adult. The effect on the health of our community at large and youth in particular is a great concern to me. I want to act now, not in one or two or 20 years. This feels very urgent to me, and I hope that it feels urgent to our elected officials as well.”
Or this: “As a retired grandfather, my limited investment in an EV, heat pump, induction stove, etc. … in support of our rapid transition to clean energy and a livable future for our grandchildren is undermined by electricity regulations that pander to fossil gas interests.”
Our rapid transition to clean energy and a livable future for our grandchildren is undermined by electricity regulations that pander to fossil gas interests.
After pushback from the premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan, and extensive lobbying by the oil and gas industry, the federal government is reconsidering the terms of its clean electricity regulations. The proposed changes threaten to weaken and delay this cornerstone climate policy which we need to instead see strengthened and finalized this summer.
The David Suzuki Foundation is calling on decision-makers to hold firm and reject changes to regulations that would add emissions to the grid. Flexibility for provinces is good, but not if it includes loopholes that allow more fossil fuel plants to be built. Proposed loopholes would allow many fossil fuel generators to continue polluting until 2045 or beyond, something we can’t afford as the climate crisis accelerates and fossil fuel costs soar.
Meeting a target of zero-emissions electricity by 2035 is foundational to a net-zero economy, and is supported by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the International Energy Agency, and agreements at COP28. All G7 countries have also committed to the goal. The severe wildfires, floods, and droughts throughout Canada in the past year are stark reminders of the perils of delaying the transition to clean energy.
People throughout the country want affordable and effective climate solutions like clean electricity from solar and wind.
Studies in Canada—including our own—confirm that we can have an affordable, reliable zero-emission electricity system by 2035. The fossil fuel status quo, in contrast, brings with it high costs that drive up inflation and energy prices.
People throughout the country want affordable and effective climate solutions like clean electricity from solar and wind. They want Canada to be part of the solution. Our government should follow that lead and bring in stronger clean electricity regulations that set communities up for a cleaner, healthier, and more affordable future.
This op-ed was originally published in The Hill Times.
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