Statement by Lorena Patterson, President and CEO of WaterPower Canada
May 14, 2026, Ottawa, ON – We welcome the Government of Canada’s launch of a National Electricity Strategy. As electricity demand continues to grow across the country, Canada will need to expand and modernize the clean electricity infrastructure that underpins reliability, affordability, energy security, and electrification.
We are encouraged to see the Government’s focus on streamlining permitting for electricity projects, supporting skilled labour development, building domestic capacity across the electricity value chain, and advancing long-term funding mechanisms that reflect the scale and timelines of major electricity projects. We also welcome the proposed expansion of the Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit to include intra-provincial transmission projects. This addresses a long-standing concern for hydropower developers and recognizes the important role transmission will play in strengthening and connecting Canada’s electricity grid.
Hydropower already provides the majority of Canada’s electricity and approximately 86 per cent of its renewable electricity. It will continue to play a critical role in a reliable, flexible, and low-carbon energy system. We look forward to contributing to consultations in the months ahead.
Additional Information:
- Canada’s Electricity Future Requires a Reliable Backbone (Fact Sheet)
- What Hydropower Actually Does on the Grid (Media Backgrounder)
About WaterPower Canada:
WaterPower Canada is the national voice of Canada’s waterpower industry. As a not-for-profit trade association, WPC represents producers, manufacturers and developers who collectively account for more than 95 per cent of Canada’s waterpower capacity. The association advocates for the responsible development and use of waterpower to meet Canada’s current and future energy needs.
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Media Contact:
Paula Gray, Senior Director of Communications, WaterPower Canada, 613-608-8155, paula@waterpowercanada.ca