The Pearson Centre recently attended the launch of The Green Ribbon Panel’s 100 day plan. The Green Ribbon Panel was formed in 2020 to bring together leaders from across Canada to drive practical energy solutions that keep our country secure and competitive. The Panel encourages dialogue and engagement between business and civic leaders to share ideas and solutions as we progress on Canada’s clean energy journey. We are pleased to share their recent Op-Ed outlining the Panel’s vision. More information can be found here: Green Ribbon Panel
The Green Ribbon Panel believes the next 100 days will provide a unique opportunity for Canada’s new government to take decisive action
Canada is at an important juncture that will determine our future energy and economic security, standard of living and prosperity for generations to come. To meet this moment, Canada has a bold, ambitious agenda to expedite nation-building projects, attract investment, create prosperity, and put people to work while meeting obligations to Indigenous peoples and our shared environment. The Green Ribbon Panel believes the next 100 days provide a unique opportunity for Canada’s new government to take decisive action.
The Green Ribbon Panel consists of leaders who came together during the pandemic from a cross section of industry and labour — public, private and not for profit — with a range of mandates, a multitude of interests but one common purpose. With that purpose, we have one vision: Canada as a clean energy superpower through practical, executable actions.
The panel has written the prime minister to identify key actions over the next 100 days that can be anchored in the upcoming federal budget to help build One Canadian Economy. They include:
- Complete the implementation of investment tax credits (ITCs) by the end of 2025 to send signals of strength and investment certainty. Without this, we risk losing critical investment to other jurisdictions.
- Establish a national industrial policy for energy. Specifically, consolidate energy sector bulk buying and the ability to incentivize common elements of all electricity infrastructure for long-term manufacturing such as transformers, bulk materials, pumps, valves and motors, and adopt a long-term tariff response fund to regions most impacted.
- Advancing and protecting the interests of Indigenous peoples as rights-holders is key to the success of major projects. Rights-holders with the prospect of energy or resource developments need stable capacity to participate and engage in regulatory processes and environmental reviews. Canada must develop a sustainable capacity framework with common expectations for proponents. Harmonization of federal and provincial Indigenous loan guarantee programs within the next 100 days is critical.
- Advance “No Regret” investment actions by prioritizing early-stage investment and innovative financing models for large, multi-year energy projects, large hydro and nuclear in particular. There is an opportunity for a standardized framework to achieve consistency, alignment and something that is financeable from the private sector or large Canadian pension plans or from workers.
With the right policy actions, Canada can unlock billions in private investment and advance priority projects faster, together. Our panel is ready to help build a strong, self-reliant Canadian economy.
James Scongack, Chair
Green Ribbon Panel