System Under Stress: Energy Decision-Making in Canada and the Need for Informed Reform

Abstract

Canada’s energy decision systems are under stress, stress that appears to be growing and is reaching the point of dysfunction. This is costing and will cost Canada in many ways: in environmental performance; in our capacity to attract investment and foster innovation; in the energy system’s ability to cost-effectively deliver reliable energy; and ultimately, in Canada’s ability to manage the transformation to a much lower carbon energy economy. This paper aims to increase the light and reduce the heat on this problem and does so in four steps: framing the problématique; better understanding the system and its component parts; identifying the core stress points in the system; and outlining a broad approach to ‘informed reform.’