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Energy Subsidies in Canada

The GSI program of work for Canada undertakes research and policy engagement on subsidies for fuel consumers and producers at the provincial and national level. It’s key focus is on identifying the scale of subsidie, and strategies for their reform and ultimate removal, in line with Canada’s commitments to the G7 and G20.

Research

Objectives
  • Reduce expenditure on fossil fuel subsidies that promote unsustainable environmental and social impacts
  • Reform subsidies to level the playing field for clean energy
  • Improve the fair social distribution of subsidy expenditure
  • Build a greater understanding of the scale of subsidies in Canada, and how these subsidies can be better allocated within the economy to benefit economic, environmental and social outcomes
Collaborations

 

In carrying forward this work the Global Subsidies Initiative has collaborated with a number of organizations including Equiterre, Oil Change International, Environmental Defence and Climate Action Network Canada.

Press Release: Seven principles to align COVID-19 recovery with Canada’s climate commitments—new report shown to key federal ministers

July 7, 2020
Leading environmental organizations endorse new green recovery guidelines, including strict conditions on oil and gas industry July 7, 2020, Ottawa—As the federal government works out its COVID-19 economic recovery, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) today released seven principles that outline a roadmap for meeting Canada’s 2050 climate commitments while spurring economic resiliency and

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Blog: Who will pay for Alberta's orphan wells?

March 27, 2020 | Vanessa Corkal
Alberta's orphan wells require proper decommissioning to prevent harm to the environment and surrounding community, but who will pay for this? Canadians are facing many struggles right now: an unprecedented economic slowdown due to COVID-19, a global oil price shock, and the still-urgent challenge of transitioning to a low-carbon future.

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Reports: Locked In and Losing Out: British Columbia’s fossil fuel subsidies

BC’s fossil fuel subsidies reached CAD 830 million in 2017–2018. New subsidies continue to be created, including significant support for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry. Provincial fossil fuel subsidies undermine the CleanBC plan introduced by the government in 2018 and hold the province back from meeting its targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions. This IISD report calls on British Columbia to pha

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Press Release: Ontario provides roughly CAD 700 million annually to subsidize fossil fuels at a time of fiscal constraint, new report shows

July 31, 2019
Ottawa, July 31 2019 – Ontario, a province undergoing an aggressive push to balance its budget after projecting a deficit of CAD 11.7 billion in 2018/19, still provides roughly CAD 700 million in subsidies to fossil fuels that increase greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to climate change, according to a new study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)’s Global Subsidies Initiative.

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Reports: G20 Coal Subsidies: Canada

June 26, 2019
This country study and accompanying data sheet compiles publicly available information on G20 subsidies to the production and consumption of coal (including coal-fired power) in Canada in 2016 and 2017.

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