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Intro to Energy Policy of Canada Wiki Page

Canada has a robust energy profile with abundant and diverse resources. The energy and climate policies in Canada are interrelated. These energy and climate policies are implemented at both the federal and provincial government level. The federal government is responsible for establishing objectives for the entire country and the provincial governments are responsible for enforcing these objectives and developing the methods to achieve these goals. In 2015, the federal and provincial governments created a national agreement for cooperating in boosting the nation's energy industry while transitioning to a low-carbon economy. Today, provincial governments are developing their own strategies in order to reach the national goals. The Prince Edward Island Strategy is one of the first provincial strategies developed in response to the federal agreement goals.

Energy Policies
Canada has a robust energy profile with abundant and diverse resources. Energy and climate policies are interrelated. These policies are implemented at both the federal and provincial governmental level. From a recent SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis conducted in 2013 of a Canadian energy and climate policies has shows that there is a lack of consistency between federal and regional strategies. The reason for this lack of consistency was attributed to the economic and environmental realities, the diversity of energy sources and energy demands that vary greatly among the Canadian provinces. As a result of the differing energy characteristics of the provinces there is creation of multiple federal and provincial strategies, sometimes complementary, but often contradictory.

The Canadian energy policy is based on three important principles. These principles are (1) competitive markets to ensure a successful and innovative energy system capable of meeting Canadian energy needs, (2) respecting the jurisdictions of provinces and the federal government and (3) targeted federal interventions in the energy trading process ensuring the specific energy-policy objectives are achieved.

In order to improve the coherence of provinces and federal policies a combination of policy tools have been instituted to facilitate collaboration between the federal and provincial governments. These policies tools have resulted in equal balance of federal and provincial government in the creation of energy policies. The federal government is responsible for establishing objectives for the entire country and the provincial governments are responsible for enforcing these objectives and developing the methods to achieve these goals.

In 2015, the federal government worked with Canada's provincial leaders and reached an agreement for cooperating in boosting the nation's industry while transitioning to a low-carbon economy. The critics of this agreement doubted that the provincial leaders would be to reach an agreement and they also doubted that they would be successful in forming a joint energy policy. However, this was not the case. After a three-day meeting in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Council of the Federation released this report that set out their vision for a national energy strategy. This agreement is meant to guide energy policy among the provincial governments. This agreement seeks out to influence provinces to promote energy efficiency and conservation, transition to lower carbon economy and enhance energy information and awareness. The Prince Edward Island Strategy is a provincial strategy that was in response to meeting the federal government goals presented in this agreement.

Prince Edward Island




In August 2016, the local government of Prince Edward Island (PEI) with Dunsky Energy Consulting developed a 10-year strategy to reduce energy use, establish cleaner and locally produced energy sources, and moderate future energy prices. The Prince Edward Island Energy Strategy is aligned with Canada's energy policy, Provincial Climate Change Mitigation Recommendation. The PEI Energy Strategy was formed based on the recommendations from Dunsky Energy Consulting and extensive consultation with individuals, businesses, and organizations. This strategy was formed on three pillars: reducing greenhouse gas emissions; implementing cost-effective actions and decisions; and creating local economic opportunities.

The objective of this strategy is to develop Prince Edward Island to become more sustainable and energy independent. PEI is targeting three vital areas: efficiency, conservation and renewable energies.

This strategy relies on every Islander to plan a role in creating a more sustainable energy future through education, engagement, outreach activities voluntary actions and incentives. This strategy provides the foundation for a more secure and sustainable energy future for Prince Edward Island.