CANADA’S ENERGY POLICY
Why is this topic important?
Municipal, provincial/ territorial and federal government all play a role in Canada’s energy production
and transmission and in many cases, their roles are interconnected. How we extract and use Canada’s
energy and where we export it is an integral part of the country’s economy and international affairs.
Different groups and governments dispute the correct use of Canada’s energy resources, however
resource sustainability and future implications of resource extraction is topic that is more important
now than ever. When addressing the production and transmission of Canada’s energy resources, it is
important to discuss the role of government and how individual citizens can contribute to big energy
decisions.
How to introduce this topic to students
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Divide students into small groups and have them brainstorm as many words connected with
energy in Canada as they can. Make a list on the board. Have students determine which form of
government (municipal, provincial/territorial, federal) addresses each term. Have groups choose one
term and research how it is address by that particular form of government.
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Using the news section on the EnergyIQ website, search for news articles related to a specific
type of energy. Next, highlight which level of government addresses is responsible for this issue.
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Bring in a local and national newspapers for one week and share with your students energythemed articles. How do the views on Canada’s energy differ?
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Divide students into 13 groups, representing each province and territory in Canada. Have
students determine an energy-related issue connected to their province/territory. How do
provincial/territorial energy topics differ across the country? How are they similar?
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Host a town council meeting in your classroom and assign students various roles. Have students
research information on a specific energy project/issue in your local community (or a community of
your choice) and have a discussion.
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Choose a type of energy produced in Canada and compare it with another country that produces
it. What role does government and energy policy play in each country and how are they
similar/different?
Additional Resources
International Energy Agency: http://www.iea.org
EnergyIQ: www.energyiq.canadiangeographic.ca
National Energy Board: http://www.neb-one.gc.ca/
Natural Resources Canada: www.nrcan.gc.ca
Canada’s Economic Action Plan: http://actionplan.gc.ca/
Energy Council of Canada: http://www.energy.ca/
Environment Canada: www.ec.gc.ca
Links to Canadian National Standards for Geography
Essential element 2: Places and Regions
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Similarities and differences of local places and regions with other places and regions
Perceptions of places and regions
World political regions
Concepts of formal, functional and perceptual regions
Political and historical characteristics of regions
Essential Element 4: Human Systems
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Patterns of land use and economic activity in the community
Political units and hierarchies (differences between community, city, municipality, province,
country)
Territorial dispute and conflict
Global economic interdependence
Essential Element 6: The Uses of Geography
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Environmental problems in the present and future
Interaction of physical and human systems and influence on current and future conditions
Role of municipal points of view in contemporary geographic policies and issues
Local, regional, and world policies and problems with spatial dimensions.