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The report argues that federal investments in clean electricity will lower overall energy expenses for Canadians by 2050, despite modest increases in electricity rates, provided that provinces implement targeted affordability measures for low-income households.

The June 2021 heat wave in British Columbia was the deadliest disaster in the province's history, resulting in 619 direct heat-related deaths. The report estimates the societal cost of these lives lost at $5.5 billion using the Value of a Statistical Life (VSL) metric. Beyond mortality, the event caused $12 million in healthcare costs, significant agricultural revenue losses (at least $25 million), and disruptions to electricity and transportation infrastructure. Vulnerabilities were exacerbated by a lack of mechanical cooling in homes, inadequate urban greening, and institutional failures in disaster response and communication. The report argues that without adaptation, heat-related hospitalizations could double by 2030 and annual deaths could average 1,370 by 2030. Key recommendations include updating building codes for mechanical cooling, increasing urban forest canopies, improving weather warning lead times to three days, and implementing independent public reviews of disaster responses.

The Canadian Climate Institute asserts that while the 2023 budget provides financial incentives for a clean economy, regulatory bottlenecks—such as repetitive procedures and limited agency capacity—hinder project implementation. It highlights the urgency of developing critical minerals to meet US market opportunities before 2032 and calls for a streamlined regulatory approach that maintains environmental standards and respects Indigenous rights and consent.

The policy brief examines the challenges of sustainable finance, noting that a lack of standardized information and an over-reliance on green bonds for clean energy generation limit the flow of capital. It highlights international examples, such as the European Union's taxonomy and reporting directives, and suggests Canada adopt similar frameworks for transition finance and sustainability-linked finance to support high-emitting sectors and aggregated project investments.

The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) took the unusual step of rejecting Enbridge Gas's $123.7 million Saint-Laurent Ottawa Nord pipeline project, citing the City of Ottawa's electrification plans and a projected decline in natural gas demand. The document explores how this decision challenges traditional utility business models—where returns are often based on pipeline mileage rather than gas volume—and highlights the risk of 'stranded assets' if new infrastructure is built despite decarbonization goals. It further discusses Enbridge's five-year plan, which advocates for a 'diversified' scenario including low-carbon gas and hydrogen, contrasting this with the City of Ottawa's preference for integrated energy planning to meet climate targets.

The report examines the 'Maritimes anomaly,' where New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island have achieved significantly higher heat pump adoption rates than the rest of Canada. It attributes this success to a combination of high energy poverty, a moderate Atlantic climate, existing institutional commitments to energy efficiency, and aggressive financial incentives. The document highlights the importance of 'stacking' provincial and federal grants and warns against the rise of unreliable installers.

The report analyzes a partnership between Hydro-Québec and Énergir to transition buildings to bi-energy heating (electricity and natural gas). While the agreement reduces natural gas consumption by over 70% and is more cost-effective for Hydro-Québec than full electrification, the authors warn of potential 'carbon lock-in' due to 15-year contracts and the uncertain availability of renewable natural gas to cover remaining fossil fuel use by 2050.

The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) denied Enbridge Gas's $123.7-million St. Laurent North pipeline project, citing Ottawa's community electrification plan and reduced future gas demand. This decision highlights a tension between traditional utility business models—which reward infrastructure ownership—and the shift toward net-zero emissions. The case underscores the need for integrated resource planning (IRP) and raises concerns about the risk of stranded assets being passed on to ratepayers as Ontario transitions away from fossil fuels.

The document examines a partnership between Hydro-Québec and Énergir to transition building heating to a 'dual energy' system, where electricity is used primarily and natural gas is reserved for cold snaps. While the agreement reduces natural gas consumption by over 70% and is more cost-effective for the grid than full electrification, the authors warn of potential 'carbon lock-in' due to 15-year contracts and the uncertainty of whether renewable natural gas (RNG) can replace the remaining 30% of gas demand.

The report analyzes why New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island have seen a surge in heat pump installations compared to the rest of Canada. It attributes this 'anomaly' to a combination of moderate climates, high energy poverty, existing electrical infrastructure, and aggressive financial incentives. The study highlights the role of established energy efficiency agencies and the effectiveness of combining heat pump rebates with broader home energy audits. It also notes challenges such as unreliable installers and administrative bottlenecks, offering lessons for scaling electrification across Canada.

The Canadian Climate Institute argues that the Parliamentary Budget Officer's (PBO) analysis of carbon pricing is flawed because it ignores the economic costs of climate change and the global shift toward carbon neutrality. While acknowledging the PBO's finding that 80% of households in most provinces benefit from rebates, the Institute asserts that the PBO uses a fictitious scenario of zero climate consequences and fails to account for the risk to Canada's competitiveness and exports in a world where 92% of global GDP comes from countries targeting carbon neutrality.

The Canadian Climate Institute views the 2023 federal budget as a strategic response to the US Inflation Reduction Act, utilizing investment tax credits, the Canada Growth Fund, and the Canada Infrastructure Bank to mobilize private capital for clean energy. Key priorities include clean electricity, hydrogen production, and climate resilience funding.

The Canadian Climate Institute identifies two primary priorities for Budget 2023: attracting clean investment to compete with the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act and expanding the national electricity system. The Institute recommends using carbon contracts for difference to leverage carbon pricing and implementing investment tax credits and 'electric federalism' to modernize electricity infrastructure.

The Canadian Climate Institute identifies two main priorities for the 2023 federal budget: attracting clean investment to compete with the US Inflation Reduction Act and expanding the electrical grid. It recommends using carbon contracts for difference instead of direct subsidies and implementing an 'electro-federalism' approach to coordinate grid improvements with provinces.

The Canadian Climate Institute recommends a strategic approach to clean growth that leverages limited public funds to attract private investment. Key proposals include fixing market failures, releasing carbon price schedules beyond 2030, implementing clear exit strategies for public support, and ensuring the Canada Growth Fund maintains political independence and promotes Indigenous majority ownership.

The report recommends a strategic approach to clean growth in Canada, emphasizing the use of public funds to correct market failures rather than simply matching US subsidies. Key recommendations include extending the carbon pricing schedule beyond 2030, implementing carbon contracts for difference, and ensuring the Canada Growth Fund operates with political independence and a mandate for Indigenous-led projects.

Clean Energy Canada and the Canadian Climate Institute advocate for the rapid finalization of the Clean Electricity Regulations (CER) to provide investment certainty for non-emitting generation. They support a flexible performance standard and an emissions pooling approach but warn against excessive flexibility that could incentivize the continued use of natural gas as a baseload resource. The authors recommend a performance standard of no more than 60 tonnes of CO2 per GWh and oppose extending the End of Prescribed Life (EoPL) beyond 20 years to avoid stranded assets and prolonged emissions.

The author contends that while carbon pricing is Canada's primary decarbonization driver, it is insufficient alone to attract the private capital needed for a net zero economy. To remain competitive, especially against the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, Canada needs to address market failures caused by historical fossil fuel subsidies and the high risks associated with first-of-their-kind low-carbon projects. The document recommends implementing carbon contracts for difference, investment tax credits, and a clean investment taxonomy, all integrated into a coordinated strategic framework to avoid ad hoc spending and maximize social returns.

The author contends that while carbon pricing is a vital tool, Canada needs a broader strategic framework to address market failures—such as fossil fuel subsidies and high initial capital costs—and to respond to international competition like the US Inflation Reduction Act. The paper suggests combining carbon pricing with targeted public incentives, a clean investment taxonomy, and sector-specific growth strategies to attract private capital efficiently without excessive or scattered public spending.

The policy brief examines four international models of clean growth financing to provide lessons for Canada's transition to carbon neutrality by 2050. It highlights Australia's Clean Energy Finance Corporation for its dual focus on profitability and emissions reduction, the UK's contracts for difference for effective risk-sharing in renewable energy, Norway's Longship project for its holistic state support of carbon capture and storage, and the US Inflation Reduction Act's use of tax credits tied to carbon intensity and social standards for hydrogen production.