Clean Energy Leaders Call on Canada to “double, double, double” by 2050

September 22, 2026

Industry associations and think tanks urge federal government to pair its electricity supply goal with national electrification and energy efficiency objectives

Leading Canadian clean energy industry associations and think tanks have submitted a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney calling on the federal government to expand its emerging national electricity strategy around three mutually reinforcing objectives: double electricity supply, double electrification and double energy efficiency by 2050.

The organizations strongly support the government’s commitment in Powering Canada Strong: A National Strategy for an Electrified Canadian Economy to double Canada’s electricity supply by 2050. But they argue that building more electricity infrastructure alone will not ensure Canadians realize the full economic, affordability and energy-security benefits of that investment.

The letter calls on the federal government to add two complementary objectives:

Double electrification by 2050 — at least doubling the share of Canada’s final energy needs supplied by electricity; and
Double energy efficiency by 2050 — doubling the economic value Canadians generate from each unit of energy consumed.

Together, the three objectives would provide Canada with a clear national mission for building a larger, more efficient and more affordable energy system.

“Canada has an enormous opportunity to turn abundant clean electricity into a global competitive advantage,” said Ian Bruce, President of New Economy Canada. “To seize it, we need to build more clean power, help industries and businesses use it in more ways, and get more economic value from every unit of energy we consume.”

The letter argues that the approach would advance several of the federal government’s core priorities: lowering household and business energy costs, improving productivity and competitiveness, strengthening energy security and reducing emissions.

“Energy efficiency is what makes every new investment in electricity work harder for Canadians,” said Corey Diamond, Executive Director of Efficiency Canada. “By wasting less energy in our homes, buildings and industries, we can lower bills, improve productivity and free up clean electricity to power more of the economy. A national goal to double energy efficiency would put affordability at the heart of Canada’s electricity strategy.”

It also notes that Canada would be moving in step with major international partners, notably the European Union, with whom Canada is pursuing a closer economic relationship. The European Union and France have established explicit electrification strategies, while Canada is participating in the international Electrify Now initiative, which is advancing a global objective for electricity to supply 35 per cent of final energy demand by 2035.

“Doubling electricity supply is the right ambition,” said Chris Severson-Baker, Executive Director of the Pembina Institute. “Pairing it with equally ambitious goals for electrification and energy efficiency would ensure those investments translate into greater prosperity, affordability, economic reconciliation, energy security and resilience for Canadians.”

Open Letter

September 17, 2026

The Right Honourable Mark Carney, P.C., O.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A2

Dear Prime Minister Carney:

Re: Powering Canada Strong—doubling electricity, electrification and energy efficiency

We are writing to express our strong support for the direction established in Powering Canada Strong: A National Strategy for an Electrified Canadian Economy, including its commitment to double Canada’s electricity supply by 2050.

This is the scale of ambition Canada needs. Building substantially more clean, reliable and affordable electricity—and the associated transmission, distribution and storage—will be essential to strengthening Canada’s economy, improving affordability and reinforcing our energy security. Growing the skilled workforce and securing the requisite material and technology supply chains—with an emphasis on building up made-in-Canada capacity and securing the remainder from reliable trading partners—are the key enablers that make it possible.

Indigenous nations are central actors in Canada’s electricity systems, given the centrality of free, prior and informed consent and the concurrent increase in Indigenous ownership of clean power generation and transmissions assets. Currently, Indigenous nations are the largest electricity asset owners outside of Crown corporations and utilities, with equity in nearly 550 projects, roughly $260 billion in electricity infrastructure. A study commissioned by the First Nations Major Project Coalition shows that, Indigenous ownership could further unlock $12 billion in generation and $5 billion in transmission equity.

In your recent Forward Guidance on Canada’s energy future, you articulated the opportunity clearly: “The path to affordability is electrification. The path to competitiveness is electrification. The path to sustainability is electrification.”

You also explained why greater control over our electricity system is central to Canada’s economic security. Unlike globally traded fossil fuels, electricity is largely generated, delivered and regulated within Canada. Electrification can therefore reduce Canadians’ exposure to geopolitical conflict, volatile commodity prices and supply disruptions while allowing more of our energy spending to support Canadian workers, communities and businesses.

We therefore encourage your government to build on its electricity-supply commitment by establishing two complementary national objectives:

Double electrification by 2050—defined as doubling the share of Canada’s final energy needs supplied by electricity; and
Double energy efficiency by 2050—defined as doubling the economic value Canadians generate from each unit of energy consumed.

Together, these objectives would establish a coherent national mission: double electricity supply, double electrification and double energy efficiency by 2050.

Doubling electricity supply alone will not guarantee that Canadians receive the full benefits of the investments being made. Canada must also enable households and businesses to use clean electricity in place of more expensive and less efficient fossil fuels in transportation, buildings and industry. At the same time, Canada must maximize the economic and social value obtained from every unit of energy through efficient equipment, buildings, industrial processes and integrated energy systems.

Doubling energy efficiency would also directly support your broader economic agenda. As you have acknowledged, “we have to do even more to improve our productivity, which has lagged the G7 over the past decade.” Energy productivity should be treated as a core measure of national economic performance: an economy that produces more value from less energy is generally more efficient, resilient and competitive.

These objectives are mutually reinforcing, the result of which is not only a larger electricity system but a more efficient and affordable overall energy system.

A three-part national mission would advance the government’s principal economic priorities:

Affordability: Electrification can lower total household and business energy costs as electric vehicles, heat pumps and efficient industrial technologies displace less-efficient fossil-fuel equipment.
Competitiveness and productivity: Electrification and efficiency can reduce operating costs, modernize Canada’s capital stock and strengthen Canada’s value proposition for industries seeking reliable, affordable and low-carbon energy.
Reconciliation: Development of electrification can only occur when done in close collaboration with Indigenous nations. Many of these nations are advancing numerous major electricity projects across the country, which represents one of the most significant opportunities to combine clean power development and economic reconciliation.
Energy security: Greater reliance on electricity generated from Canadian resources can reduce exposure to internationally determined oil and gas prices, geopolitical disruption and foreign supply chains.
Decarbonization: Electrification can deliver deep and durable emissions reductions in transportation, buildings and industry, where Canada’s largest opportunities for affordable emissions reductions are concentrated. Your electricity-strategy address rightly described affordable electrification as the largest emissions-reduction opportunity.

In pursuing ambitious electricity supply, electrification, and energy efficiency goals Canada would not be acting alone but rather keeping pace with global allies and trading partners. The European Union has adopted an Electrification Action Plan, with a reference objective for electricity to provide 32% of final energy consumption by 2030 and an indicative target of 46% by 2040. The EU explicitly presents electrification as a means of lowering energy costs, strengthening competitiveness and reducing fossil-fuel import dependence.

France has introduced a 22-measure national plan to electrify buildings, mobility, industry, agriculture and other end uses. Its objectives include protecting purchasing power, improving business competitiveness, strengthening energy sovereignty and accelerating decarbonization.

We are encouraged to see Canada as a first-mover participant in Electrify Now, alongside the European Commission, Australia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Korea and other partners. The initiative is advancing a global objective for electricity to meet 35% of final energy demand by 2035 and recognizes rapid electrification as an economic and strategic priority—not solely a climate objective.

A clear domestic electrification objective would allow Canada to lead Electrify Now by example. Pairing that target with an energy-efficiency objective would also reinforce the international commitment to double the rate of energy-efficiency improvement, demonstrating how clean electricity expansion can translate into lower total energy use, greater economic output and tangible affordability benefits for citizens.

The “double-double-double” approach described above could catalyze billions in investment, create career opportunities across the country, boost businesses productivity, advance economic reconciliation with Indigenous nations, lower Canadians’ energy costs and bolster supply chains—from raw resources through manufacturing—and services that Canada can also export abroad. As you and your government work to finalize and implement Powering Canada Strong we strongly encourage you to broaden its scope—ensuring it aims to double each of supply, electrification and efficiency—which will build lasting prosperity, security and resilience for generations to come.

Sincerely,