Report: Getting to 2050, Citizen Recommendations

Diverse citizens come to a consensus on energy policy for Canada, which will serve as a model for the federal government

The Citizen Dialogues on Canada’s Energy Future process has concluded and the results are available in a new report entitled Getting to 2050, Citizen Recommendations. Throughout September and October, 150 randomly selected citizens participated in a series of dialogues held coast to coast. Representing Canada’s regional, demographic, and attitudinal diversity, participants were able to come to a consensus on a national energy plan that protects the environment and jobs and retains international competitiveness. Major pillars include:

• Transition plan for vulnerable communities
• Investment in infrastructure
• Incentives for clean tech and clean energy
• Regulations to address impacts

Underlying the recommendations is a desire for building trust in government and depoliticizing energy decisions. The results are being looked at by senior policy-makers at the federal and provincial levels to guide future energy policy, and as a new model for citizen engagement on difficult public policy topics.

“The Citizen Dialogues provided an important platform for us to engage and listen to Canadians from all walks of life,” says Jim Carr, Minister of Natural Resources Canada, “and turn their innovative ideas into constructive planning for Canada’s low-carbon energy future.”

The Citizen Dialogues on Canada’s Energy Future were funded by Natural Resources Canada as part of the Generation Energy initiative.

Report: Getting to 2050, Citizen Recommendations (download in PDF format)

Final video

About the process

This initiative is the first ever cross-Canada deliberative dialogue where randomly selected citizens have advised the Government of Canada on energy policy. The SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue convened five regional dialogues in September, taking place in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, and Halifax. A group of 35 representatives from the regional dialogues traveled with the SFU team to Winnipeg to participate in Natural Resources Canada’s Generation Energy forum. Here they deliberated final recommendations, which are included in the report, Getting to 2050.

Background information

• National opinion poll: A national poll conducted by Forum Research was used as a basis for participant selection. Full results are available here.
• Regional reports: Detailed reports from the Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, and Halifax dialogues are available here.

Next steps

• Technical report: A full technical report will be released online in January 2018.
• Learning webinar: We will deliver a webinar on Wednesday, January 24 that will offer opportunities for deeper learning and questions and answers. Register for the webinar to receive a link to participate.