Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on May 14, 2026, that the federal government is launching consultations on a forthcoming National Electricity Strategy (the “Strategy”), intended to support a doubling of Canada’s electricity grid capacity by 2050, a national grid, jobs and training, and domestic manufacturing. The consultations are expected to include provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples, utilities, unions, industry, and training partners.
The federal government identified four main pillars of the Strategy:
- Building infrastructure to double Canada’s electricity generation, including generation, transmission, distribution, storage, and grid modernization.
- Connecting Canada’s electricity grids East-West-North through new and expanded transmission lines, including work to address barriers to interprovincial interties.
- Training, attracting, and retaining workers needed to build and maintain the grid, with the announcement stating that more than 130,000 high-skilled workers may be required by 2050.
- Supporting domestic manufacturing of technologies and components used in Canada’s electricity system.
The Prime Minister’s Office expressly indicated that the federal government intends to adjust the Clean Electricity Regulations to provide additional flexibility, including in relation to natural gas, while pursuing emissions reductions and reliability and affordability objectives.
The announcement highlights several electricity projects being advanced through the Major Projects Office, including the Taltson Hydro Expansion, the Iqaluit Nukkiksautiit Hydro Project, Darlington New Nuclear, the North Coast Transmission Line, and Wind West. The federal government also indicated that development of a new Transmission InterConnect Investment Strategy is expected to be referred to the Major Projects Office.
The announcement also indicates that the federal government intends to expand support for energy-saving retrofits for up to one million households, including measures to support the transition from propane, oil, and electric baseboard heating to electric heat pumps.
The Strategy is expected to be developed over the coming months and be tied to the Alberta MOU, which is anticipated to be released shortly.
For further information or to discuss the contents of this bulletin, please contact Lisa DeMarco at lisa@resilientllp.com.
Image: CC2.0 Camille King
