EFC Testifies Before House of Commons Committee on Canada’s Electricity Future
June 19, 2026
The technologies needed to support Canada’s electrification ambitions already exist, the challenge is deployment. That was a central message delivered by Electro-Federation Canada (EFC) during its June 16 appearance before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources as part of its study on Canada’s electrification, energy self-sufficiency, and domestic energy security.
Representing EFC, Cherith Sinasac, Director of Government Affairs, presented findings from EFC’s latest research report, Building Canada’s Future Electricity Grid: A Supply Chain and Policy Roadmap, developed in partnership with Dunsky Energy.
During the testimony, EFC emphasized that supply chain constraints, cost pressures, utility regulatory frameworks, and codes and standards interoperability issues continue to slow the expansion and modernization of Canada’s electricity system.
As electricity demand grows due to electrification, economic development, and emerging large loads such as data centres, Canada must simultaneously expand, upgrade, and modernize its grid infrastructure. EFC highlighted the need to strengthen domestic supply chains for critical grid technologies to support energy security, economic competitiveness, and long-term system reliability.
Among the report’s key recommendations is a coordinated national strategy to address bottlenecks in critical grid technologies, including transformers, switchgear, high-voltage equipment, and key material inputs. EFC also called for targeted financing and incentives, including expansion of the Clean Technology Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit to strategic grid technologies, to strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity and improve supply chain resilience.
The testimony further underscored the need to modernize utility regulatory frameworks to better enable digital technologies, demand-side management solutions, and non-wires alternatives. EFC also highlighted the important role of energy efficiency, load shifting, and customer-side flexibility in managing peak demand, improving system reliability, and reducing the need for costly infrastructure investments.
These recommendations are intended to address the business environment EFC members are experiencing today, including equipment shortages, supply chain disruptions, rising costs, and increasing demand for grid infrastructure. Ensuring policymakers understand these realities will be critical as Canada plans for future electricity growth.
EFC appreciates the opportunity to contribute to this important discussion and will continue working with policymakers and industry partners to advance practical solutions that strengthen Canada’s electricity system, enhance energy security, and support long-term economic growth.
As EFC advances these recommendations, member input will be critical. In the coming months, EFC will engage members on current supply chain challenges, investment barriers, manufacturing capacity constraints, and opportunities to strengthen Canada’s domestic electrical supply chain. Member insights will help shape EFC’s ongoing advocacy efforts and future policy recommendations.
