Energy Future Forum announces new initiative to advance Canada’s economic growth and prosperity
Ottawa, ON, Jan. 27, 2025 – Today the Public Policy Forum launched a new phase of its Energy Future Forum to accelerate Canada’s economic competitiveness and productivity growth by unlocking investment and development in the energy, mining and infrastructure sectors.
Against the backdrop of a U.S. tariff threat on Canadian exports, EFF 2.0 will develop urgent strategies to leverage Canada’s energy and mining assets, driving much-needed investment for economic growth and the modernization of our energy system. Called ‘Getting to Final Investment Decision,’ EFF 2.0 will focus on what it will take to get projects built. That includes a reduction of regulatory burdens and internal trade barriers, innovations in clean energy and technology, diversifying markets, enabling market access and expanding supply chains.
“While we must address the immediate challenges posed by these tariffs, we must also seize this moment to take decisive action to shape a stronger, more resilient and innovative energy-secure economy, as well as a united Canada,” said Inez Jabalpurwala, President and CEO of PPF. “It is incumbent upon us to stimulate economic growth, advance clean technology, expand our markets, remove internal trade barriers and get projects built.”
There are currently 340 energy and 138 mining projects, with a combined value of $627 billion, that are planned or under construction in Canada, according to Natural Resources Canada’s 2024 projects inventory. Accelerating these projects will drive economic growth, energy security and cleantech innovation, while meeting growing consumer and industrial energy demand.
EFF is a multi-year initiative by the Public Policy Forum to help Canada modernize and decarbonize its energy and affiliated industrial sectors. The ‘Getting to Final Investment Decision’ project phase will engage industry leaders, Indigenous communities, investors, government representatives, environmental groups and academia to develop solutions for catalyzing energy, mining and infrastructure investments.
The project, which will produce a report by this summer, will focus on four major areas:
- Project Financing, Alignment and Coordination: Developing coordinated financing mechanisms that enable projects to move forward;
- Energy Infrastructure Systems: Ensuring policies enable efficient connection between suppliers and customers, while minimizing costs and emissions;
- Regulatory Approvals and Permitting: Streamlining approval processes to reduce delays and create certainty for project proponents; and
- Indigenous Economic Participation: Facilitating Indigenous ownership and participation in energy projects through enhanced access to capital, as well as minimum procurement commitments.
Key to EFF 2.0 is a recognition that although Canada is increasingly seen as a critical player in global energy security, the pace of the country’s investment in energy, mining, infrastructure and cleantech projects has stalled. According to Natural Resources Canada, the value of active natural resources projects in Canada between 2015 and 2024 declined by 11%, from $711 billion to $632 billion, while the number of completed projects fell by 39%. This, at a moment when colossal investments are required to meet rising energy demand, including critical minerals; the Royal Bank of Canada estimates that $2 trillion will be required in the next three decades to overhaul Canada’s energy system.
“While Canada is endowed with an abundance of energy, mining resources and key infrastructure, we need to leverage this competitive advantage and remove roadblocks to the investment needed to build major energy, mining, clean technology and infrastructure projects,” said Jay Khosla, Executive Director of Economic and Energy Policy at PPF. “These projects are of national significance and have the potential to unite Canadians around a shared purpose, contributing to greater prosperity and building a stronger, more resilient Canada.”
EFF 2.0, which launches just as EFF celebrates its fifth anniversary, will be led by Jay Khosla, with support from PPF Policy Lead Arash Golshan and PPF Fellows Mark Cameron and Edward Greenspon.
For more information, please contact:
Alison Uncles
Vice-President, PPF Media + Communications
Public Policy Forum
About the Public Policy Forum (PPF)
The Public Policy Forum (PPF) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing Canada’s public policy discourse. PPF brings together senior leaders from across sectors to address critical public policy issues. Through research, dialogue and engagement, PPF fosters collaboration and seeks innovative solutions to the challenges facing Canada.