Advocacy Activities

The Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) is dedicated to contributing to the success of its members through the delivery of a strong advocacy program. By providing a clear, focused and coherent voice in Ottawa and Washington, CEA’s Government Relations Program ensures that the interests and needs of its members have a significant impact on policy and regulatory developments.

The six main priority areas for Canada’s electricity sector - Infrastructure, Energy Efficiency, Technology, Regulation, Environment and Security - provide a comprehensive road map of the industry’s most pressing issues and the corresponding statutes and legislation addressed by CEA’s GR program at the federal level.

1. Infrastructure

The ability to build needed electricity infrastructure, to meet growing demand and replace aging assets is key to the economic prosperity of Canada.  CEA works to overcome the barriers to timely investment in infrastructure, including siting, rates of return, community acceptance, and public understanding of need.

Regulatory reform activities related to the development of the Major Projects Management Office to support the development and implementation of initiatives to improve efficiency, predictability and accountability of federal regulatory system, and enhance inter-jurisdictional coordination in relation to electricity industry plans to address the need for new infrastructure development to meet growing demand for electricity and replacing aging electricity assets. 

The Fisheries Act, The Species at Risk Act and The Migratory Birds Convention Act in respect to the management of habitat, fisheries, species at risk and migratory birds in relation to the generation and transmission of electricity, and policies to streamline and clarify the regulatory process, in relation to electricity industry plans to address the need for new infrastructure development to meet growing demand for electricity and replacing aging electricity assets.

Canadian Environmental Protection Act, in respect to environmental assessment processes.

2. Energy Efficiency

Customers expect their electricity supplier to provide options to assist them in using electricity more efficiently, to help manage customer costs and minimize environmental impacts.  CEA and its member companies adopt a leadership role in providing energy efficiency information and programs; CEA works with government and stakeholders in support of energy efficiency and seeks to achieve greater understanding among regulators of the business case for energy efficiency.
 

Energy Efficiency Act, in respect to managing air emissions by reducing electricity demand.

ecoEnergy Retrofit Program, in respect to managing electricity customer costs and environmental impacts.

3. Technology

Maximizing the benefits of leading-edge technologies and deploying next-generation technology is essential to meeting industry and customer needs and to ensure an adequate and sustainable supply of electricity.  CEA advocates and catalyzes a strong market based framework (including tax and financial incentives and regulatory reform) that will advance investment in commercial (BATEA) technologies that better serve customer needs and meet expectations for sustainability.

The Electricity and Gas Inspection Act, in respect to measurement and the regulations flowing from the Electricity and Gas Act related to seal periods and to the testing of smart meters and other electricity meters that are already deployed in customer premises. 

The Income Tax Act, in respect to accelerating tax treatment for transmission assets and accelerating tax treatment of advanced metering technology; corporate tax rates and deductibility of interest on money borrowed to invest in business operations abroad; and the Scientific Research and Experimental development tax incentive program.

The Telecommunications Act, in respect to electricity support structures and spectrum management as they may be applicable to the advent of a smart grid. 

Canadian Standards Strategy, in respect to international cooperation and compatibility of reliability standards, and the development of international and national standards on power quality and electromagnetic compatibility. 

4. Regulation

Regulatory burden and delay, including duplication of process, result in lost opportunities and increased costs, hindering the ability to build essential infrastructure, implement new technologies and deploy innovative approaches to meeting customer expectations.  CEA seeks more coordinated, effective and efficient regulatory regimes within and between governments, and more timely decisions to provide greater certainty for customers and shareholders.

The Canadian Environmental Protection Act and The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act in respect to environmental assessment processes.

The Excise Tax Act, in respect to National Energy Board Cost Recovery policies that establish the rules and levels of financing that users in the electricity sector must pay as part of the NEB cost recovery policies, capital cost allowance rates, and policies pertaining to overcoming barriers to timely investment in infrastructure related to siting, rates of return, community acceptance and public understanding of need. 

5. Environment

A fragmented approach by governments to dealing with environmental issues, coupled with the lack of an integrated and coordinated Federal/Provincial environmental policy framework is a barrier to building needed infrastructure and deploying commercial (BATEA) technologies.  CEA seeks a holistic approach and greater regulatory coherence on environmental issues, in a manner that is results focused and preserves the widest range of options in a sustainable manner.

Canadian Environmental Protection Act, in respect to air emissions, Particulate Matter (PM), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Mercury.

The National Pollutant Release Inventory, as it pertains to emissions data collection and reporting; wood preservatives CCA (chromated copper arsenate), ACA (ammoniacal copper arsenate), ACZA (ammoniacal copper zinc arsenate), Creosote and PCP (Pentachlorophenol).

The Canadian Environmental Protection Act and The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act in respect to environmental assessment processes.

6. Security

Ensuring the long-term security, reliability and stability of the electricity system in Canada, considering its key role in powering other critical infrastructure sectors, is essential to the economy and quality of life.  CEA takes a risk-based all-hazards approach and provides members with coordination and programs to protect the Canadian electricity system from physical and cyber threats.

The National Security Policy, in respect to security standards for facilities used for the international trade of electricity, reliability standards, the development of the national Cyber Security Strategy, pandemic planning and a national plan for the use of anti-virals, and activities pertaining to threat and risk assessments, security clearances, exercises and drills.

The Emergency Management Act, in respect to pandemic planning and a national plan for the use of anti-virals, security standards for facilities used for the international trade of electricity, reliability standards and activities pertaining to threat and risk assessments, security clearances, exercises and drills. 

Other

Canada Labour Code, in respect to occupational health and safety, worker safety and workplace hazardous materials applicable to electricity generation, transmission and distribution facilities, the transportation of dangerous goods by electricity sector companies, and the health effects of electric and magnetic fields (EMF). 

Canada's Workplace Skills Strategy, in respect to facilitating school-to-work transitions for skilled trades, and developing sector and career awareness strategies for the electricity industry. 

The Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Program, in respect to recruiting and retaining workers, and developing sector and career awareness strategies for the electricity industry. 

Internationally Trained Workers Initiative, in respect to recruiting and retaining workers for the electricity industry, and developing sector and career awareness strategies for the electricity industry. 

The Food and Drugs Act, in respect to electric and magnetic fields (EMF). 

The Radiation Emitting Devices Act, in respect to electric and magnetic fields (EMF