Executive Leadership Roundtables

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: 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.

Why now: As Canada accelerates investment across oil and gas, LNG, CCUS, hydrogen,
nuclear, critical minerals, and other emerging technologies, major projects are increasingly
competing for the same skilled talent. Workforce constraints are becoming a growing risk to
project delivery, making it imperative to strengthen Canada’s energy talent supply chain to meet
both immediate labour market demands and long-term workforce needs.

Core questions: How can employers, post-secondary institutions, governments, unions, and
Indigenous communities work together to coordinate talent supply across Canada’s energy
economy? What strategies can increase the supply of skilled workers? And what approaches
are proving most effective in improving labour mobility, workforce deployment, and skills
transferability across energy sub-sectors and regions?

Who’s in the room: CHROs and VPs/Directors of HR, corporate leaders, union
representatives, Indigenous leaders, industry associations, leaders from provincial and federal
governments