Good afternoon, and thank you to the committee for inviting me to attend today's meeting. I am really appreciative of the opportunity to provide some insight on how critical Bill C-49 is for the offshore wind industry and the members I represent here today.
My name is Elisa Obermann. I am the executive director at Marine Renewables Canada, or MRC. It's a national association representing the offshore wind, tidal, wave and river current energy industry. We represent about 180 members, including technology and project developers, suppliers, researchers and communities.
Many of those members are focused on realizing offshore wind development opportunities in Canada, including companies already developing offshore wind projects internationally, as well as numerous suppliers with decades of experience working in Atlantic Canada's offshore and marine industries. To support these interests, MRC has been advocating for a supportive and predictable regulatory path that can both catalyze growth and ensure sustainable development in the sector.
With some of the best offshore wind resources in the world, developing this new sector could help address several of Canada's clean energy and net-zero goals, spur economic opportunities and create new jobs. We view Bill C-49 as being critical to realizing these opportunities and advancing offshore wind in Canada for several reasons.
First, time is of the essence. Canada is already competing against many other jurisdictions that have mature regulatory frameworks for offshore wind in place. Investors will go to the countries that have both an attractive energy resource and a clear regulatory regime. Bill C-49 establishes the regulatory path and certainty that are needed in Canada now.
Delays in establishing a regulatory framework not only impact Canada's competitiveness but also delay the economic opportunities, local jobs and clean electricity that would result from offshore wind development.
Second, amending the accord acts builds upon existing and proven frameworks that will allow Canada to develop offshore wind efficiently and effectively. Leveraging the regulatory experience of the offshore boards and working within a framework that the provinces are familiar with and helped to establish creates a strong foundation for this emerging sector. This approach is not unique. Other jurisdictions seeking to diversify their energy mix and enable a transition to cleaner energy resources have also leveraged offshore oil and gas regimes and regulatory experience to support offshore wind.
Third, establishing a regulatory framework is a critical first step amidst the other initiatives under way. We recognize that Bill C-49 is not designed or intended to cover every aspect of the regulation of offshore wind, but it will impact how and when offshore wind can be developed in Canada. Delays to enacting this law have ramifications on parallel initiatives, including Nova Scotia's target to begin leasing offshore wind in 2025.
I also want to say that, while we believe it is critical to move swiftly to have a regulatory framework established, we also recognize that this is a new industry for Canada. It must be developed responsibly, with the scientific rigour required to maintain the integrity of marine ecosystems and with respect for the inherent legal and treaty rights of our indigenous communities. That same respect must be extended to local residents and other ocean users. To that end, MRC and its offshore wind developer members have been working to foster an early two-way dialogue with fisheries, communities, environmental organizations and indigenous groups to understand concerns, share information about offshore wind and find areas of co-operation and collaboration.
In closing, I would like to emphasize that, given the critical importance of establishing a regulatory framework for offshore wind, Marine Renewables Canada supports Bill C-49 without any additional amendments and encourages the Standing Committee on Natural Resources to adopt the bill in a timely manner and move it to the next stage of review and consideration.
We are confident that the contents of Bill C-49, along with parallel processes and initiatives under way at provincial and federal levels, establish the regulatory certainty that is needed by industry to make critical investment decisions and, ultimately, develop offshore wind in Canada.
Thank you very much.