Tuesday, May 30th at the SOCO Ballroom, Delta Toronto Hotel, 75 Lower Simcoe Street
Two hundred business leaders, entrepreneurs and policy makers who are shaping Canada’s energy future gathered for the third annual National Energy Roundtable conference to learn about the exciting innovations that are driving Canada’s transition to a lower carbon economy.
Canada is uniquely positioned to be an energy power – a stable democracy that is home to vast resources and types of energy. The federal government and provinces have recently made headway by agreeing to national carbon emissions targets and helping advance the development critical energy infrastructure. Yet for the country to achieve its potential, further work is required, including the commercialization and application of new energy technologies and establishing norms for inter provincial energy cooperation through a national framework that benefits of all Canadians.
The theme for the 2017 National Energy Roundtable was: Energy transition to a lower carbon world. The conference featured a high-powered line up of speakers from across Canada who provided insights on how Canada can decarbonize in ways that are beneficial to the economy. Topics of discussion included:
The National Energy Roundtable convenes prominent members of the energy ecosystem for thought-provoking discussion on the important issues and opportunities of our time.
Tuesday, May 30th – SOCO Ballroom, Delta Toronto Hotel, 75 Lower Simcoe Street
| MC | Jameson Berkow, Energy Reporter, Business News Network | |
| 8:00 am | Registration opens. Light breakfast served | |
| 8:30 am | Welcome by Monica Rovers, Head of Energy Business Development, Toronto Stock Exchange | |
| 8:35 am | A conversation with Glenn Thibeault, Ontario Minister of Energy and Pierre Arcand, Quebec Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Interviewed by Tom Clark, Vice Chair, Global Public Affairs | |
| 9:15 am | Session I: Opportunities in electrification Carbon regulations are rolling out across Canada. The business case for technological innovation and energy management is stronger than ever. Canada’s electricity sector has reduced emissions by 30% since 2005 and 80% of its electricity generation is GHG free. $350 billion in investment over the next twenty years is required to replace aging infrastructure and develop the next generation of energy systems. Alberta and Saskatchewan are a new frontier for the renewable energy industry – up to 7000 MW of new supply could be developed over the next 15 years. At present, 20% of Canada’s energy needs are powered by electricity and more work with rate-focused regulators is required to spur innovation. The panel will explore the potential of electrification to meet climate targets, transport needs, to develop remote regions and to facilitate cross border trade.
Session chair: Helle Bank Jorgensen, CEO, B.Accountability |
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| 10:15 am | Networking break | |
| 10:45 am | Session II: A Canadian gas strategy As Canada’s energy needs expand, reducing GHG emissions requires a thoughtful path forward that includes an energy mix that provides grid integrity, affordable heating and transportation. Natural gas is inexpensive, flexible and clean and can play a significant role in reducing Canada’s carbon footprint. Western Canadian natural gas exports to the US are dropping and in the major eastern Canadian markets, western natural gas competes against supplies from the U.S., importing almost 800,000 million cubic feet of natural gas in 2015. Canadian natural gas can serve markets in the eastern part of the country using existing infrastructure and significant LNG export opportunities exist on both the east and west coasts. The session will explore how Canada can pursue a gas strategy that strengthens the grid and industrial activities whilst reducing emissions.
Session chair: Mungo Hardwicke-Brown, Partner, Energy Law, Blakes |
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| 11:45 am | Jacques Benoit, President & COO, Pacific Future Energy Building the world’s greenest refinery – achieving net zero carbon |
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| 12:15 pm | Luncheon with remarks by Martha Hall-Findlay, President & CEO, Canada West Foundation | |
| 1:45 pm
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A discussion led by Bill Tharp, Chief Executive Officer, Tangerine Tango, with Richard Blundell, Adjunct Professor, Rotman School of Management and Helle Bank Jorgensen, CEO, B.Accountability and President, Global Compact Network Canada, on: Expanding existing low carbon business models | |
| 2:30 pm | Session III: Carbon regulation – where are the opportunities? Pricing carbon and other GHGs addresses the market failure inherent in an economy that doesn’t price damaging emissions. This is the public case for a reduction in carbon emissions and a driver of regulatory approaches that seek to reduce emissions. As a consequence, the incorporation of carbon reduction strategies is increasingly central to business planning. But how does a business go further and turn carbon from being a cost into a source of profit? Well functioning carbon markets coupled with advances in energy management processes and technologies offer a range of potential solutions to this challenge. The session will explore the opportunities, and challenges, in the creation and use of carbon markets in business planning.
Session chair: Duff Harper, Partner, Environmental Law, Blakes |
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| 3:30 pm | Close by Jason Langrish, President, The Energy Roundtable |
Photos from the 2017 National Energy Roundtable
Photos from the 2016 National Energy Roundtable
