Natural Resources committee  Yes, that's precisely it. We need to be more efficient with our entire economy. It's building so that families will have better homes and lower energy costs. It's also industry and having greater efficiency in our industries. I think we're seeing that. I want to say again that this lower-carbon, decarbonized world, with cleaner energy and low-carbon products is where the world is going.

Natural Resources committee  I want to go back to your question about electricity bills, because—

Natural Resources committee  I can tell you that in fossil fuel electricity production or in vehicles, as you're well aware, there's a significant amount. More energy is lost through heat than is put into the work. If you're talking about that phase transition, it's far more efficient to —

Natural Resources committee  What I'm well aware of is that your energy bills will go down. This is proven out by extensive modelling by agencies such as the International Energy Agency as well as modelling done here in Canada by Climate Choices and by ourselves. I'll send Dan a copy of the paper we've produced about vehicles and how your energy costs, your overall costs of running a vehicle, will be lower.

Natural Resources committee  Sure. I just wanted to be really clear to the members here that I did say that electricity bills will go up, because you'll be using more electricity in a lower-carbon world as we move to 2030, but your overall energy costs—and that's what matters to the pocketbook—will go down.

Natural Resources committee  With respect to the clean industrial strategy I was talking about, the country needs to get clear on where it's going. We need policy certainty on decarbonization. We need certainty on supports like tax credits and investments. I think we need certainty. The business sector is asking for certainty and not this “yinning and yanging” back and forth.

Natural Resources committee  Yes, many of the skills are largely transferrable. We're looking for electricians, welders, construction workers and engineers. We are looking for people who are doing the same types of assessments, environmental assessments and marketing. All of those skills are directly transferrable.

Natural Resources committee  I see the work of this committee as very instrumental in supporting workers through that transition. I believe that one of the other panellists has identified some key steps—upskilling and connecting people with the jobs—and there's really a role for government to play to help with that, ensuring that we have university programs so we are building the skills in both the technical colleges and universities and matching those.

Natural Resources committee  As I've said, there's huge potential for jobs across this country in both energy as well as in low-carbon industries, things like increasing our mining sector, increasing manufacturing of things like batteries and things that really fit with Canada and what Canada has, such as our critical metals and minerals, for example, and our clean electricity.

Natural Resources committee  I'm able to provide the study for you. It's an American group that's similar to Iron and Earth.

Natural Resources committee  Thank you. That's a great question. There will be jobs in energy production, whether that's clean hydrogen or electricity transmission, etc. These are highly skilled and well-paid jobs. There will be jobs in transportation as well. I brought up the whole piece about transitioning to electric vehicles in the auto sector, and we're already seeing a huge number of jobs there, which is forecast to be growing.

Natural Resources committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Good afternoon, Mr. Chair and members of the committee. Five years ago, in a meeting with many of you elected officials, the number one message I had was that climate action wasn't about pain; it was about gain. It was that the energy transition was about jobs and the economy.