DIVIDED? Polarization and Canada’s Energy Future in an Age of Climate Change

Oct 10, 2019 — All day

The future of Canadian energy in an age of climate change is passionately contested. Disagreement on an issue this important is not surprising, but is there really growing polarization on energy in Canada? If so, on what issues, between which groups, and why? What are the consequences of polarization? How can Canada effectively navigate and overcome a polarized environment to enable effective, evidence-informed decision-making about Canada’s energy future in an age of climate change, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and public mistrust of institutions?

It was the first major conference of Positive Energy’s second three-year project and convened senior leaders form business, government, Indigenous communities, civil society and the academy to examine and address polarization in Canadian politics, in particular its effects on energy decision-making. At the conference, Positive Energy released original public opinion research on polarization (survey work with Nanos Research, our official pollster), along with original cutting-edge research on drivers of polarization and recommendations to address it.

Speakers

Keynote Speaker

Nik Nanos, Chair and CEO, Nanos Research

Panelists

Marisa Beck, Research Director, ISSP, University of Ottawa
Stephen Bird, Associate Professor, Political Science, Clarkson University
Rhona DelFrari, Vice-President, Communications and External Engagement, Cenovus Energy
Nik Nanos, Chair and CEO, Nanos Research
Catherine Abreu, Executive Director, Climate Action Network
Duane Bratt, Professor and Chair, Department of Economics, Justice, and Policy Studies, Mount Royal University
Larissa Crawford, Speaker, Larissa Crawford Speaks
Patrick McCurdy, Associate Professor, Department of Communication, University of Ottawa
Normand Mousseau, Academic Director, Trottier Energy Institute
Neil Alexander, CEO, Bucephalus Consulting
Anne-Raphaelle Audouin, President, Waterpower Canada
James Donald, Doctoral Candidate, School of Environmental Studies,University of Victoria
Christina Hoicka, Assistant Professor, Sustainable Energy Economics, York University
Patricia Larkin, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Positive Energy, University of Ottawa
Niilo Edwards, Executive Director, First Nations Major Projects Coalition
Tonja Leach, Executive Director, QUEST
David Lye, Vice-President External Affairs, Encana
Aimee Richard, Bachelor’s degree, Public Administration and Women's Studies, University of Ottawa

Moderator

Monica Gattinger, Chair, Positive Energy
Mike Cleland, Senior Fellow, Positive Energy
Tabatha Bull, Chief Operating Officer, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
Meredith Adler, Executive Director, Student Energy

Activity: Energy and the arts

Cameron Cross, Public Artist