Canada’s Role in the Global Energy Picture

The document examines Canada's position as a major energy producer and the risks associated with its fragmented, province-led energy approach. It highlights the tension between Canada's traditional energy exports—particularly oil sands—and the global shift toward clean energy. The authors argue that a national strategy is essential to meet climate goals, protect trade interests (especially with the U.S.), and establish global leadership in technologies like carbon capture and storage (CCS). It also assesses the current 'patchwork' of international energy governance, including the roles of the IEA, IRENA, and trade agreements like NAFTA.

• Canada possesses a competitive advantage for private sector investment in traditional energy due to its stable democracy and significant reserves of oil, natural gas, hydro, and uranium.
• Canada's energy sector is heavily dependent on the United States, which receives 98 per cent of its energy exports, making Canada vulnerable to shifts in U.S. energy security and clean energy policies.
• The current Canadian energy approach is fragmented and driven by individual provinces and territories, resulting in a lack of a coherent national vision and competing regional policies.
• A national energy strategy is necessary to achieve climate change emission reduction targets, as current 'ad hoc' regional policies are insufficient to meet these goals.
• Canada has the potential to lead globally in low-carbon technology, specifically carbon capture and storage (CCS), and share these advancements with developing nations.
• International energy governance is currently a 'patchwork affair,' with various bodies like the IEA, OPEC, and the newly established IRENA (as of 2009) having limited or evolving scopes.
• Trade rules under the WTO and NAFTA contain gaps regarding energy exports, such as uncertainty over whether electricity is a good or a service, which necessitates further clarification to support clean energy development.

APA

Gass, P., & Drexhage, J. (2010). Canada’s Role in the Global Energy Picture. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/banff_dialogue_national_energy_approach.pdf

Chicago

Gass, Philip, and John Drexhage. Canada’s Role in the Global Energy Picture. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2010. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/banff_dialogue_national_energy_approach.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Gass |first1=Philip |last2=Drexhage |first2=John |title=Canada’s Role in the Global Energy Picture |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2010 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/banff_dialogue_national_energy_approach.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gass2010canadas, author = {Gass, Philip and Drexhage, John}, title = {{Canada’s Role in the Global Energy Picture}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2010}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/banff_dialogue_national_energy_approach.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }