From managing affordability to attracting investment, mayors and municipal officials see firsthand how energy influences their communities. Their message is consistent: developing Canada’s energy resources is not just about supply – it’s about supporting communities, creating jobs, and driving long-term prosperity.
How does energy impact the cost of living for Canadian communities?
For municipal leaders, energy affordability is a tangible, day-to-day concern. It affects housing, transportation, business operations, and basic quality of life. When energy is reliable and affordable, families can plan, businesses can grow, and communities can thrive.
This is why local governments consider energy security to be foundational. It drives everything from municipal services to economic competitiveness. In their eyes, energy affordability isn’t a future issue – it’s a present priority.
Energy development = more jobs and growth
Whether it is agriculture, manufacturing or data centre for AI, reliable, affordable energy is critical to Canada’s competitiveness. On the ground, that means growing communities and higher living standards. Communities like Yorkton, Saskatchewan are bucking the trend of decline in many parts of rural Canada. They are growing because of a thriving and innovative canola processing industry, whose success anchors other important local businesses.
All forms of energy have a role to play in delivering the things that communities need. For sectors like agriculture and manufacturing that have both power and heating requirements, natural gas plays a vital role.
How does policy impact growth through energy projects?
Energy requires infrastructure – for its production, distribution and delivery. Infrastructure requires clear rules that provide confidence to investors. These are not abstract considerations – when we get it right, communities thrive. When we get it wrong, there are many downstream effects.
Our 2024 paper – Getting Canada’s energy future right: a consumer lens on energy in Canada – highlights some of the important considerations for policy makers. A critical one being talk to the people on the ground[SJ1] , Canada is too diverse for one-size fits all solutions.
What community leaders want you to know
The role of energy in Canadian life isn’t theoretical – it’s local, immediate, and essential. Mayors and municipal officials offer a grounded perspective informed by what they see and hear every day: energy supports communities, creates jobs, and positions Canada to lead.
Canada has the energy. Developing it and getting it where it needs to go is an opportunity to strengthen our economy from the ground up.
