Statement by Lorena Patterson, President and CEO of WaterPower Canada
OTTAWA, ON, September 9, 2025 – WaterPower Canada is encouraged to see the recent announcement on plans for red tape reduction across government departments. Streamlining regulatory and administrative processes is a positive step, and we are ready to actively engage in these processes to help accelerate hydropower responsibly across the country. This includes both ambitious new projects and the refurbishments and minor works that Canada’s existing facilities require.
Newly released government polling underscores why these efforts matter: hydropower projects ranked at the very top of national support, with 88% of Canadians backing hydroelectric generation and transmission. Alongside highways and ports, hydro received the strongest support of any major infrastructure type. Canadians are clear: they want more clean, reliable energy from water.
At the same time, truly unlocking hydropower’s potential will require going further. Much-needed legislative updates and additional regulatory changes will be essential to fully realize the clean energy benefits hydropower can deliver for Canadians.
We look forward to working with government to advance these next steps and ensure Canada’s largest source of renewable electricity continues to power our clean energy future.
About WaterPower Canada (WPC):
WaterPower Canada (WPC) is the national voice of Canada’s waterpower industry. As a not-for-profit trade association, WPC represents members across the sector, including hydropower producers, manufacturers, and developers, who collectively account for over 95% of Canada’s waterpower capacity, advocating for the sustainable development and use of waterpower to meet Canada’s current and future energy needs.
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For media enquiries, please contact:
Paula Gray, Director of Communications, WaterPower Canada, 613-608-8155, paula@waterpowercanada.ca