Resources, Environment and Economy

Pursuit of decarbonization objectives without addressing other environmental and economic impacts harms the competitiveness of Canada’s resource sector (including agriculture). We have what the world wants and we can produce it sustainably and economically if given the chance.

Policy Goal: Ensure timely and robust project approval and authorization processes at the federal and provincial levels.

The problem goes beyond federal impact assessment. We see regulatory and permitting challenges in energy, mining and the infrastructure to serve them. The demand for critical minerals has opened a window for regulatory change. 

We will:

• Continue to identify problems with overlapping and even conflicting assessment processes.
• Propose and advance practical fixes that respect the environment, economy and indigenous rights to enhance competitiveness of Canada’s energy and mining resources and contribute Canada’s critical minerals to supply our global partners. Solutions based on the September 2023 report, Competitive Canada: Recommendations to improve federal assessment for major projects, will be advanced and tested with stakeholders.

SIGNATURE PROJECT PROFILE

What’s baby and what’s bathwater?
To improve impact assessment, it will be important to identify what is necessary to maintain a robust process while getting rid of those elements that add cost without value. Reports have identified weaknesses – the next phase is to advance practical solutions, including collaboration within and across orders of government to reduce overlap, uncertainty, and repetition, while maintaining the integrity of assessments and permitting as they relate to communities, indigenous rights and the environment.

Policy Goal: Ensure Western Canada’s electricity systems can meet future demand with energy that is reliable, affordable and with low emissions.

We will: 

• Explore practical solutions that work within the unique context of each Western province, building on our comprehensive analysis of that context – Electricity Systems Across Western Canada: A Landscape Analysis (July 2023).

Policy Goal: Identify competitive opportunities and challenges at the intersection of resources, the economy and robust environmental regulation.

We will:

• Identify how Canada can enhance energy security of our allies and help reduce global greenhouse gas emissions – starting with the value of Canada’s LNG exports to B.C., Canada and the world.
• Identify new areas where CWF can make a unique contribution to national leadership from a Western perspective in the areas of Forestry, Agriculture and Water. 
• Continue the Energy Innovation Brief.