{"id":95855,"date":"2025-05-06T15:21:02","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T19:21:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/?post_type=cu_story&#038;p=95855"},"modified":"2025-08-19T10:03:00","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T14:03:00","slug":"carney-canada-energy-superpower","status":"publish","type":"cu_story","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/story\/carney-canada-energy-superpower\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Carney Wants To Make Canada an Energy Superpower \u2014 but What Will Be Sacrificed for That Goal?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-max  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n        \n                    \n                    \n            \n    <div class=\"cu-wideimage relative flex items-center justify-center mx-auto px-8 overflow-hidden md:px-16 rounded-xl not-prose  my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 bg-opacity-50 bg-cover bg-cu-black-50 pt-24 pb-32 md:pt-28 md:pb-44 lg:pt-36 lg:pb-60 xl:pt-48 xl:pb-72\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/canada-energy-1200x900-1.jpg); background-position: 50% 50%;\">\n\n                    <div class=\"absolute top-0 w-full h-screen\" style=\"background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.600);\"><\/div>\n        \n        <div class=\"relative z-[2] max-w-4xl w-full flex flex-col items-center gap-2 cu-wideimage-image cu-zero-first-last\">\n            <header class=\"mx-auto mb-6 text-center text-white cu-pageheader cu-component-updated cu-pageheader--center md:mb-12\">\n\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold mb-2 text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] cu-pageheader--center text-center mx-auto after:left-px\">\n                        Mark Carney Wants To Make Canada an Energy Superpower \u2014 but What Will Be Sacrificed for That Goal?\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                            <\/header>\n        <\/div>\n\n                    <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"absolute bottom-0 w-full z-[1]\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 1280 312\">\n                <path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M26.412 315.608c-.602-.268-6.655-2.412-13.524-4.769a1943.84 1943.84 0 0 1-14.682-5.144l-2.276-.858v-5.358c0-4.876.086-5.358.773-5.09 1.674.643 21.38 5.84 34.646 9.109 14.682 3.59 28.935 6.858 45.936 10.449l9.874 2.089H57.322c-16.4 0-30.31-.16-30.91-.428ZM460.019 315.233c42.974-10.074 75.602-19.88 132.443-39.867 76.16-26.791 152.063-57.709 222.385-90.663 16.7-7.823 21.336-10.074 44.262-21.273 85.004-41.688 134.719-64.193 195.291-88.413 66.55-26.577 145.2-53.584 194.27-66.765C1258.5 5.626 1281.34 0 1282.24 0c.17 0 .34 27.596.34 61.3v61.299l-2.23.375c-84.7 13.718-165.93 35.955-310.736 84.931-46.494 15.753-65.427 22.076-96.166 32.15-9.102 3-24.814 8.198-34.989 11.574-107.543 35.954-153.008 50.422-196.626 62.639l-6.74 1.876-89.126-.054c-78.135-.054-88.782-.161-85.948-.857ZM729.628 312.875c33.229-10.985 69.248-23.523 127.506-44.207 118.705-42.223 164.596-57.709 217.446-73.302 2.62-.75 8.29-2.465 12.67-3.751 56.19-16.772 126.94-33.597 184.17-43.671 5.07-.91 9.66-1.768 10.22-1.875l.94-.161v170.236l-281.28-.054H719.968l9.66-3.215ZM246.864 313.411c-65.041-2.251-143.047-12.11-208.432-26.256-18.375-3.965-41.73-9.538-42.202-10.074-.171-.214-.257-21.38-.214-47.046l.129-46.618 6.654 3.697c57.313 32.043 118.491 56.531 197.699 79.143 40.313 11.521 83.459 18.058 138.669 21.059 15.584.857 65.685.857 81.14 0 33.744-1.876 61.306-4.93 88.396-9.806 6.396-1.126 11.634-1.983 11.722-1.929.255.375-20.48 7.769-30.999 11.038-28.592 8.948-59.288 15.646-91.873 20.147-26.36 3.59-50.015 5.627-78.35 6.698-15.584.59-55.209.59-72.339-.053Z\"><\/path>\n                <path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M-3.066 295.067 32.06 304.1v9.033H-3.066v-18.066Z\"><\/path>\n            <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n\n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<p>This article is <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/mark-carney-wants-to-make-canada-an-energy-superpower-but-what-will-be-sacrificed-for-that-goal-255079\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">republished<\/a> from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. All photos provided by <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Conversation<\/a> from various sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/politicaleconomy\/people\/jane-stinson-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jane Stinson<\/a> is an adjunct professor in work and labour at Carleton University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"ad-auris-iframe\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 100px; border: none;\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"400\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/audio.adauris.ai\/v2\/widget\/RvjICRaqgSFBJozV1NoK\/AIoJAicxgCkJxAkGQfXK?distribution=true\" width=\"100%\" data-project-id=\"RvjICRaqgSFBJozV1NoK\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Canada&#8217;s recent federal election was regularly dubbed one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/politics\/election-carney-poilievre-trump-analysis-1.7519010\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">most consequential of the last 50 years<\/a>. Economic and sovereignty threats from United States President Donald Trump were key issues in the campaign. In response, pledges about energy infrastructure and resource development played an important role in party platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We have been studying impact assessments, the uneven consequences of resource development and sustainable energy transitions for over 15 years. We&#8217;re concerned about what and who may be overlooked as the government moves to become &#8220;an energy superpower,&#8221; in part by getting projects &#8220;done faster and better.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We&#8217;re also interested in how the newly elected Liberal government can support more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oxfamamerica.org\/explore\/stories\/what-is-a-just-energy-transition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">just energy transitions<\/a> \u2014 that is, moving toward low carbon energy and economies that prioritize equity for workers and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"challenges-with-liberal-promises\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Challenges with Liberal promises<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/liberal.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/292\/2025\/04\/Canada-Strong.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Liberal Party platform<\/a> includes renewed attention to an east-west energy corridor. It also promises to speed up and streamline the review of major resource projects and &#8220;get big projects built quickly&#8221; by &#8220;shifting the focus of project review from &#8216;why&#8217; to &#8216;how.'&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The platform also promises more support for Indigenous participation in major projects and commits to using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/women-gender-equality\/gender-based-analysis-plus.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gender-Based Analysis Plus<\/a> \u2014 or GBA Plus \u2014 in policies and programs. GBA Plus is a method for assessing how diverse groups of people experience policies, programs and initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through our research, we have advocated strongly for applying GBA Plus in the resource sector, including by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/14615517.2021.1906152\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">centring community knowledge in impact assessments<\/a> and proposing strategies for improving how <a href=\"https:\/\/www.criaw-icref.ca\/publications\/strengthening-impact-assessments-for-indigenous-women\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Indigenous women&#8217;s experiences and knowledge are considered in impact assessments<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the last year, we also produced \u2014 along with our colleague <a href=\"https:\/\/experts.uoguelph.ca\/deborah-stienstra\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Deborah Stienstra<\/a> \u2014 two major research reports for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/impact-assessment-agency.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Impact Assessment Agency of Canada<\/a>. Both were on the application of GBA Plus in regional assessments for offshore wind in <a href=\"https:\/\/iaac-aeic.gc.ca\/050\/documents\/p83514\/159198E.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nova Scotia<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/iaac-aeic.gc.ca\/050\/documents\/p84343\/160543E.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Newfoundland and Labrador<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regional assessments are a planning tool used before specific projects are proposed. They help identify important issues to consider if specific project assessments \u2014 for instance, for critical mineral mines, offshore wind projects or other resource developments \u2014 are conducted. If done well, regional assessments can help with more equitable and efficient project planning and development in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What do the findings from our work in this area suggest in terms of how the Liberal government should proceed with its energy vision?<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull wp-image-95860 size-full w-screen ml-offset-center cu-max-w-child-max px-4 md:px-6 lg:px-12\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/canada-energy-1200x800-1.jpg\" alt=\"Dam of hydroelectric power plant, example of energy in Canada.\" class=\"wp-image-95860\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/canada-energy-1200x800-1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/canada-energy-1200x800-1-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/canada-energy-1200x800-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/canada-energy-1200x800-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/canada-energy-1200x800-1-700x467.jpg 700w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/canada-energy-1200x800-1-200x133.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"duty-to-consult\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Duty to consult<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/laws.justice.gc.ca\/eng\/acts\/i-2.75\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Impact Assessment Act<\/a> requires meaningful execution of the duty to consult with Indigenous people affected by a major economic development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Liberal Party made important promises to <a href=\"https:\/\/liberal.ca\/cstrong\/build\/#building-a-clean-economy%20Building%20a%20Clean%20Economy%20and%20Tackling%20Climate%20Change%20section\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">advance Indigenous participation in major projects and to double capacity support so more Indigenous communities can take an active role in project decisions at various stages<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what the Liberal platform overlooks is Indigenous Peoples&#8217; right to resist and refuse developments in their territories, or how specifically to ensure that Indigenous women and gender-diverse people are meaningfully engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moving forward, the Liberals must meet their constitutional duty to consult with Indigenous Peoples, while being guided by the United Nations&#8217; principle of free, prior and informed consent per <a href=\"https:\/\/laws-lois.justice.gc.ca\/eng\/acts\/U-2.2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">legislation that confirms Canada&#8217;s commitment to the UN&#8217;s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"gba-plus\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">GBA Plus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>During the campaign, the Liberal Party reiterated its support for GBA Plus by listing it as one of six key themes <a href=\"https:\/\/liberal.ca\/cstrong\/.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">in its Make Canada Strong vision<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Liberals seemingly recognize that GBA Plus is an important tool for advancing equity for women, gender-diverse people, people with disabilities and racialized people by:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-quote cu-component-spacing\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;Identifying direct and indirect benefits of programs (e.g. job opportunities, access to programs and services) \u2026 and considering how these benefits will be distributed across diverse groups.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Liberal platform does not explicitly raise GBA Plus in relation to becoming an &#8220;energy superpower.&#8221; But GBA Plus has been gaining attention in the resource sector \u2014 particularly in relation to the development of specific projects \u2014 since the requirement to consider &#8220;the intersection of sex and gender with other identity factors&#8221; was included in the 2019 Impact Assessment Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>GBA Plus needs to be applied in project-specific assessments (for specific developments, such as mines and hydroelectric dams) and in planning assessments (like regional assessments).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In our work on the regional assessments for offshore wind in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.criaw-icref.ca\/publications\/gender-based-analysis-plus-in-offshore-wind-development-data-and-community-engagement-strategies-for-a-more-equitable-future-for-nova-scotians\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nova Scotia<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.criaw-icref.ca\/publications\/harnessing-the-potential-for-a-more-equitable-future-in-newfoundland-and-labrador-applying-gender-based-analysis-plus-gba-plus-to-offshore-wind-development\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Newfoundland and Labrador<\/a>, we demonstrate the value of applying GBA Plus throughout all impact assessment processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Doing so helps strengthen community engagement efforts, identify potential effects early, determine the data sources required for monitoring those effects, fill data gaps and highlight barriers that prevent diverse groups of people from benefiting from energy projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, without adequate child-care options, many women cannot access the high-paying jobs that sometimes accompany resource projects. The Liberal government&#8217;s support for GBA Plus must therefore be explicitly incorporated into its energy proposals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-and-who-is-lost-with-fast-tracking\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What and who is lost with fast tracking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A just energy transition is one concerned not only with planetary survival, but also with the effects of the transition on people who will be most affected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Liberal party&#8217;s vision for becoming an energy superpower includes &#8220;conventional energy resources&#8221; (like oil) as well as clean and renewable energy (like solar and hydro) and critical minerals needed to support decarbonization and energy transitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We disagree with the Liberal Party&#8217;s commitment to &#8220;shifting the focus of project review from &#8216;why&#8217; to &#8216;how.'&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We need to ask how \u2014 and even whether \u2014 an energy project contributes to a just transition. Answering questions about whether projects will meet climate commitments and help advance equity for workers and communities is critical. These questions are best asked early, during planning phases and as part of regional assessments, before specific projects are proposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The duty to consult, GBA Plus and just energy transitions are interconnected and necessary commitments for sustainable energy production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Together, they can contribute to a relationship with Indigenous Peoples that recognizes their sovereignty and to a more equitable and sustainable future. But these commitments cannot be meaningfully realized when fast-tracking development, because they require time and relationship-building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prioritizing fast-tracking \u2014 thereby falling short on these priorities and legal commitments \u2014 will backfire. It will lead to delays rather than more efficient processes, and will worsen existing inequities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>_<br>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\">Carleton Newsroom<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/255079\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\" alt=\"The Conversation\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Canada&#8217;s recent federal election was regularly dubbed one of the most consequential of the last 50 years. Economic and sovereignty threats from United States President Donald Trump were key issues in the campaign. In response, pledges about energy infrastructure and resource development played an important role in party platforms.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":410,"featured_media":95858,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_story_type":[1623],"cu_story_tag":[],"class_list":["post-95855","cu_story","type-cu_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","cu_story_type-expert-perspectives"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":"blueprint"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/95855","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/cu_story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/410"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/95855\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":95865,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/95855\/revisions\/95865"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/95858"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=95855"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_story_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story_type?post=95855"},{"taxonomy":"cu_story_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story_tag?post=95855"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}