Statement by Lorena Patterson, President and CEO of WaterPower Canada
OTTAWA, ON, June 9, 2025 – We welcome the Government of Canada’s introduction of the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act as an important and positive step toward reducing barriers and accelerating major infrastructure projects. The government’s commitment to a “one project, one review” approach – and the goal of cutting decision timelines from five years to two – is exactly the kind of leadership the hydropower sector has called for.
By shifting federal reviews toward how to advance projects rather than whether to build them, this legislation sends a strong signal that Canada is ready to prioritize infrastructure that strengthens our energy autonomy, enhances national resilience, and delivers lasting economic benefits – all while supporting climate action and meaningful Indigenous reconciliation.
Hydropower is uniquely positioned to deliver on these priorities. As the backbone of Canada’s electricity system, it generates more than 60 per cent of our power – providing reliable, consistent, and low-carbon energy. Yet despite its critical role in meeting Canada’s rising electricity demand and achieving decarbonization goals, our hydropower projects face some of the most complex and time-consuming regulatory challenges among OECD countries.
The government’s legislation lays vital groundwork by shifting the focus to how to build infrastructure, rather than whether we should. The next step is to follow through and create a regulatory framework that enables this growth. Canada’s future can be sustained by one of its greatest resources -waterpower – and our members are ready to lead the way.
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 more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Paula Gray, Director of Communications, WaterPower Canada, 613-608-8155, paula@waterpowercanada.ca