Executive Leadership Roundtables

Why now: Canada faces rising global demand for secure, responsibly produced energy, requiring new large‑scale infrastructure across pipelines, transmission, LNG, and carbon management.

Core questions: Which projects are strategically essential for national competitiveness? How do we accelerate timelines while ensuring environmental and community confidence?

Who’s in the room: Project developers, regulators, Indigenous equity partners, EPCs, financiers.

Why now: Long permitting timelines remain a top barrier to investment in energy, mining, and industrial projects. Recent federal–provincial agreements, including the Canada–Alberta MOU, signal momentum toward faster, more predictable approvals.

Core questions: What reforms can reduce timelines by 30–50%? How do we align environmental integrity with economic urgency?

Who’s in the room: Federal/provincial permitting authorities, CER leadership, Indigenous governments, industry associations.

Why now: Global markets are seeking secure, low‑carbon supply, and Canada’s ability to deliver depends on modern pipeline and CO₂ transport networks.

Core questions: What new corridors are needed for oil, LNG, hydrogen, and CO₂? How do Indigenous ownership, emissions performance, and capital discipline shape the next generation of projects?

Who’s in the room: Pipeline operators, Indigenous project owners, regulators, shippers, global buyers.

Why now: CCUS is central to Canada’s industrial competitiveness and emissions strategy. The Canada–Alberta MOU highlighted the importance of enabling large‑scale carbon storage and transport systems.

Core questions: What financial tools unlock final investment decisions? How do we build a national CO₂ transport and storage backbone?

Who’s in the room: CCUS developers, industrial emitters, finance ministries, municipalities, NGOs.

Why now: Electrification, AI, LNG, hydrogen, and industrial growth are driving unprecedented load increases across Canada.

Core questions: What mix of gas with CCS, nuclear, storage, and renewables ensures reliability and affordability? How do we plan for multi‑GW expansions by 2035?

Who’s in the room: Utilities, system operators, IPPs, large loads, technology providers.

Why now: Provinces are advancing SMR deployment strategies to meet rising electricity demand, decarbonize heavy industry, and strengthen energy security. Canada is positioned as a global leader in SMR technology and supply chains.

Core questions: What policy, regulatory, and financing frameworks are required to move from demonstration to commercial fleets? How do we build domestic supply chains and workforce capacity?

Who’s in the room: Nuclear operators, SMR developers, CNSC leadership, provincial utilities, industrial off‑takers, financiers.

Why now: Canada’s first LNG exports have begun, and global buyers are seeking long‑term, low‑carbon supply from stable jurisdictions.

Core questions: How do we scale LNG capacity while meeting emissions expectations? What are the opportunities in Asia, Europe, and emerging markets?

Who’s in the room: LNG proponents, pipeline operators, Indigenous equity partners, Asian/European buyers.

Why now: Indigenous equity and governance are now essential to the success of energy, mining, and infrastructure projects across Canada.

Core questions: What equity structures deliver long‑term value? How do we ensure early‑stage capacity funding and shared decision‑making?

Who’s in the room: Indigenous rights holders, development corporations, lenders, project sponsors.

Why now: Newfoundland & Labrador and Nova Scotia are advancing major offshore wind, hydrogen, and oil & gas opportunities, positioning Atlantic Canada as a future export hub for Europe and global markets.

Core questions: What infrastructure, regulatory, and investment frameworks are needed to scale offshore wind and hydrogen? How do we build export corridors and global partnerships?

Who’s in the room: Offshore wind developers, hydrogen producers, provincial governments, port authorities, European buyers, regulators.

Why now: Canada must scale mining, refining, and processing for copper, nickel, uranium, and rare earths to support EVs, nuclear, and grid infrastructure.

Core questions: Which projects are strategically essential? How do we build midstream capacity before 2030?

Who’s in the room: NRCan, provincial mines ministries, Indigenous development corporations, OEMs, financiers.

Why now: Canada’s clean‑power advantage is attracting hyperscalers and energy‑intensive industries, but siting, tariffs, and reliability remain key challenges.

Core questions: What frameworks balance industrial attraction with ratepayer fairness? How do we create “power‑ready” zones and integrate heat recovery?

Who’s in the room: Utilities, municipalities, hyperscalers, regulators, industrial developers.

Why now: Global investors are reallocating capital toward low‑carbon fuels, critical minerals, CCUS, and clean power — and Canada must compete aggressively.

Core questions: What conditions attract global capital? How do policy certainty, Indigenous partnership, and infrastructure readiness shape investment decisions?

Who’s in the room: Global investors, sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, project developers, investment agencies.