Energy and Natural Resources Policy

Building bridges to Asia for Canada’s oil, gas, and low carbon fuels 

Canada is expanding energy links to the Asia-Pacific with major Pacific coast export infrastructure. However, growth remains uncertain given global competition, evolving demand patterns, lack of consensus on the environmental/climate impact of increased exports, and geopolitical complexity in Canada’s bilateral relations with energy importers including China and India. We focus on understanding of these global trends and developing optimal policy paths for Canada to account for risk and opportunity.  

Adapting to the new realities of Canada-U.S energy and natural resources politics

Canada-U.S. relations have been severely impacted by Washington’s shift toward protectionism, hard power and nationalism. It’s disrupted trade in critical materials including aluminum, steel and copper. Oil, gas, and electricity trade are so far mostly unaffected. We focus on how the turmoil could rupture a longstanding, mutually beneficial energy and minerals relationship, or provide an opportunity for deeper engagement in a new North American trade and security framework. 

Supporting Canada as a global leader in critical minerals 

Canada faces the challenge of turning critical minerals potential into a driver of economic growth, national security, and deeper ties with allies and key trading partners. Policy challenges include streamlining project assessment and permitting, developing financial incentives and public-private partnerships to attract capital, and ore production. We benchmark Canada versus competitors, analyze the relationship between critical minerals and industrial, trade, security innovation policy and opportunities for First Nations participation in the sector. 

Age of electrification – powering Canada’s industrial growth and competitiveness 

Low cost, clean electricity has long been an advantage for manufacturers in Canada. The grid faces major challenges as our manufacturing sector is under pressure from tariffs and global competition, and a national strategy for electricity is vital. We focus on policy to address aging generation and transmission infrastructure, while developing policy to attract electricity-intensive industries like data centres. Canada’s transition to a lower carbon grid requires policy and technology solutions to decarbonize and scale renewables.