Canada Powered by Women: Official emissions cap statement

The federal government’s recent release of draft regulations for an oil and gas emissions cap, expected to come into effect in 2026, has raised concerns from individuals, industries and provincial governments across Canada.

Canada Powered by Women is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of women in the energy transformation conversation. Our independent research, which captures the voices of 5.6 million engaged women across Canada, reveals that only 37 per cent are even aware of the cap, which indicate the implications for affordability and future prosperity have not been clearly communicated by policymakers.

The proposed emissions targets — as much as 35 per cent below 2019 levels by 2030-2032 — are unattainable with existing technology within the given timeframe. Limited cap-and-trade allowances mean production cuts are inevitable and Canada’s role as a global leader in responsible energy production will diminish.

Instead of sparking innovation, the emissions cap is a ‘stick’ approach that will end up penalizing production — and the economic benefits, jobs and productivity that come from it. If Canada produces less energy, it will become more expensive, which in turn jeopardizes the energy security — reliability and affordability — we rely on in our daily lives.

Experts at the Conference Board of Canada also predict up to 151,000 Canadian jobs will be lost by 2030 because of the cap. With fewer workers contributing to national GDP, productivity will further decline along with standard of living as essentials such as housing, utilities and grocery prices continue to rise.

We also know that 59 per cent of engaged women think energy is currently unaffordable and 87 per cent believe upcoming energy policies, such as the emissions cap, will negatively impact their finances. At the same time, only 21 per cent believe these policies will actually lower emissions.

Reducing emissions requires a global effort and Canada will be the only major oil and gas exporting country in the world with such a cap in place. This constrains our capacity to export Canadian natural gas and LNG to countries such as India and China, where they will continue to meet needs with higher-emitting sources like coal, further undermining global emissions reduction efforts.

Engaged women want energy policies that balance economic prosperity, energy security and environmental responsibility and 45 per cent don’t believe current energy policies effectively balance the cost of living and support for the environment. We urge the federal government to review the concerns being voiced across Canada and revise the proposed emissions cap policy in such a way that supports innovation without risking the future prosperity of our country.