Executive Leadership Roundtables

AI and hyperscale data centres are pushing electricity demand sharply higher; the IEA projects global data‑centre demand ~doubling to ~945 TWh by 2030, with advanced economies seeing >20% of demand growth from data centres. Canada already counts ~239 operating data centres, with Hydro‑Québec alone forecasting +4.1 TWh of DC load by 2032.

Core questions: Where will 100–300 MW blocks come from (and by when)? What is the right mix of grid supply, PPAs, storage, on‑site thermal (gas/SMR), and demand response?

Who’s in the room: Provincial energy ministers, utilities/ISOs, hyperscale's, IPPs, storage developers, regulators.

Why now: Ensuring future power grid reliability and interconnection speed is a top risk flagged by federal market analysis; Ottawa’s Major Projects Office (MPO) was created to accelerate nationally significant projects (a potential template for grid/transmission).

Core questions: What transmission corridors and interties are nation‑critical by 2030? How should MPO‑style fast‑track criteria apply to high‑impact transmission and large interconnections?

Who’s in the room: Federal/provincial permitting authorities, CER leadership, transmission owners, Indigenous equity partners.

Why now: LNG Canada began exports in June 2025, establishing Canada as an LNG exporter; other projects (Woodfibre, Cedar, Ksi Lisims) are advancing, and Phase 2 of LNG Canada has been flagged among initial MPO priorities.

Core questions: How do we balance lower‑carbon LNG (electrification, methane control) with market timing and capital discipline? What’s the Atlantic route opportunity and Europe/Asia offtake dynamics?

Who’s in the room: LNG proponents, pipeline operators, ECCC/CER, Indigenous project owners, major Asian/European buyers.

Why now: Ontario and the federal government committed $3B+ to four SMRs at Darlington (first in the G7), targeting first power around 2030; this is reshaping Canada’s “clean firm” options nationwide.

Core questions: Where do SMRs fit regionally vs. gas + CCS, and how do we de‑risk cost/schedule? Which provinces are next, and what about supply‑chain capacity?

Who’s in the room: Provincial energy ministries, OPG/Bruce executives, CNSC, EPCs, industrial offtakes, financiers.

Why now: Canada is scaling its Critical Minerals Strategy—new PDAC 2025 funding (e.g., CMIF) and concierge support aim to accelerate projects and midstream processing amid geopolitics.

Core questions: Which projects are “of national importance” for energy security (Cu, Ni, REEs, uranium)? How do we close midstream gaps (refining, cathodes, magnets) before 2028–2030?

Who’s in the room: NRCan, provincial mines ministers, Indigenous development corporations, OEMs, financiers, NATO/ally reps.

Why now: The Canadian Climate Institute and national outlets report Canada is off‑track for 2030 (flat emissions in 2024, oil & gas growth offsetting gains elsewhere), demanding pragmatic sectoral pathways.

Core questions: What sector‑by‑sector abatement is achievable by 2030 without sacrificing energy security? Which policies must be strengthened, or streamlined, to regain momentum?

Who’s in the room: ECCC, provincial climate leads, industry CEOs, associations, labour.

Why now: The CCUS Investment Tax Credit (enacted 2024) gives long‑dated visibility, but flagship projects (e.g., Pathways Alliance CCS) still face economics, permitting, and community concerns.

Core questions: What further instruments (contracts‑for‑difference, OPEX bridges) are needed? How do we address groundwater and land‑use concerns credibly while meeting climate & market demands?

Who’s in the room: Federal/provincial finance & environment ministries, oilsands CEOs, rural municipalities, environmental NGOs, Indigenous nations.

Why now: Canada has proposed strengthened oil & gas methane rules targeting ≥75% cuts by 2030; implementation details, reporting, and equivalency with provinces are immediate issues—and a brand differentiator for LNG.

Core questions: What tech and verification stack ensures credibility? How can methane performance underpin LNG contract premiums and export competitiveness?

Who’s in the room: ECCC, provincial regulators, producers, satellite/LDAR tech firms, Asian/European buyers.

Why now: Major projects increasingly depend on Indigenous equity and benefit‑sharing; LNG Canada’s local/Indigenous contracting and equity models elsewhere are setting precedents, and MPO prioritization will demand durable consent frameworks.

Core questions: What are best‑practice equity structures across LNG, transmission, SMRs, and critical minerals? How do we ensure capacity funding early and sustained governance rights through operations?

Who’s in the room: Indigenous rights holders & development corps, federal/provincial Crown, project sponsors, lenders.

Why now: Canada finalized Clean Electricity Regulations in late 2024, with flexibilities (offsets, credits, exemptions) intended to balance decarbonization with reliability as loads surge. Executives need clarity on compliance pathways and rate impacts.

Core questions: How will provinces operationalize CER flexibilities while meeting reliability standards? What are the practical timelines for gas with CCS, storage, and nuclear to backstop variable renewables?

Who’s in the room: ECCC, provincial system planners, utilities, large loads (mines, DCs), consumer advocates.

Why now: Canada’s DC landscape is tilting to hydro provinces (Québec, B.C.) on clean cost, while Alberta promotes “bring your own power” to fast‑track approvals—raising siting, tariff, and community questions.

Core questions: What allocation and tariff frameworks balance industrial attraction with ratepayer fairness? Can we codify “power‑ready” zones and DC heat‑recovery standards?

Who’s in the room: Hydro‑rich utilities, Alberta ISO, municipalities, hyperscale's, rate regulators.

Why now: The CUSMA joint review is scheduled for 2026; Ottawa launched consultations, and analysts expect the U.S. to exert leverage on sensitive files. Energy executives must align positions on electricity trade, nuclear supply chains, LNG, and tariffs.

Core questions: What are Canada’s offensive/defensive asks for energy? How do we ring‑fence power equipment, fuel supply chains, and carbon‑based measures in a tougher tariff environment?

Who’s in the room: Global Affairs Canada, provincial trade ministers, utilities, LNG/nuclear/mining CEOs, logistics.