The Green Ribbon Panel was…

The Green Ribbon Panel was formed in February 2020 by a collection of environmental and economic leaders from across Canada with the primary goal of advancing practical and executable solutions to climate change. The panel examined the role that nuclear and Canada’s other clean energy technologies can play in the fight against climate change while creating jobs and growing the economy.
The panel comprised:

• James Scongack, Bruce Power – Chair

• Christopher Hilkene, Pollution Probe

• Steve McCauley, Pollution Probe

• Rocco Rossi, Ontario Chamber of Commerce

• Vanessa Foran, Asthma Canada

• Dennis Darby, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters

• Mark Fisher, Council of the Great Lakes Region

• Cara Clairman, Plug’n Drive

• Bruce Wallace, Nuclear Innovation Institute

• Robert Stasko, Hydrogen Business Council

• Jeff Parnell, Power Workers Union

• John Sprackett, Power Workers Union

• Scott Travers, Society of United Professionals

• Mitch Twolan, Warden Bruce County

The Panel focused on the role that nuclear and other technologies that anchor Canada’s energy sector can play in fighting climate change and growing the economy at home and abroad.In 2020, the GRP laid out principles and a call to action to address climate change, the energy transition and economic competitiveness. Many successes have emerged since that time.

The GRP is very supportive of the government’s initiative to reform how energy is planned in the province. It appreciates that the government is seeking stakeholder input on how it may rely more on the capabilities within the IESO and the OEB to transparently plan for Ontario’s energy future, and ensure implementation effectively meets Ontario’s needs in an accountable manner. Such an initiative is crucial to Ontario’s energy future as the need to take affirmative action on climate change becomes ever more urgent.

This GRP response builds on the prior work of the coalition and recognizes the changes taking place in Ontario’s energy system. In October of 2020, the GRP laid out a call to action and set principles to address climate change, the coming energy transition, and the province’s economic competitiveness. Since then, momentum has built behind Net Zero by 2050 in both government and civil society. These principles remain well-aligned with the government’s objectives, and the transition towards Net Zero.
Pursuant to the principles established in 2020 and the findings of this report, the GRP recommends the government consider the following as it reviews the roles of the government, IESO, and the OEB:

• Government can best reduce its risk by setting clear policy priorities for energy planners that include emphasizing elements of the GRP’s principles:
o Pursue decarbonization of the energy system and the economy
o Consider the benefits of emerging innovative solutions in holistically planning for the transition to Net Zero
o Plan for the requisite low-cost, low-emitting energy supplies, and ensure to maximize existing assets to their fullest potential to achieve a pathway that leads to Net Zero,
o Leverage policy tools to encourage public-private partnerships to advance the above objectives
o Enhance the competitiveness and economic strengths of the province

Please find our detailed submission attached here. The Green Ribbon Panel looks forward to discussing this submission with you.