Electrifying the Economy: Reducing Carbon while Creating Jobs

Session will be held Thursday, May 28th, 10am-11amPT/1pm-2pmET.

The climate change debate is often dominated by doom and gloom headlines.  The idea of electrifying our economy offers a positive vision of the future.  Widespread electrification of energy, industry and transportation could create huge numbers of new jobs and dramatically reduce climate changing emissions.

How do we raise the level of ambition to the scale that is needed? How does the current situation of the pandemic, and the feelings of urgency around restarting economic activity, impact the move to electrification? What actions can we take as individuals and what should we be demanding of our governments?

Join us for a panel discussion with Panelists

Bruce Lourie, Ivey Foundation

Bruce is president of the Ivey Foundation, an Adjunct Professor at the School of Policy Studies, and Senior Fellow at the Institute for Sustainable Finance, both at Queen’s University, and visiting lecturer at the University of Oxford Social Finance Programme.  He is a Board director of several organizations including the new Canadian Institute for Climate Choices, the Transition Accelerator and the SeedChange Foundation. He is a former Director of the Independent Electricity System Operator, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Environmental Defence and many others.

Bruce is well known for his work in convening collaborative efforts among businesses, NGOs and government. He played a pioneering role in connecting environmental issues to human health, most notably with his leadership in the phase-out of coal-fired power plants in Ontario, the single largest climate action in North America.  Bruce co-authored two best-selling books, including the internationally acclaimed Slow Death by Rubber Duck.  He is the founder of Summerhill Group, one of Canada’s leading energy efficiency consultancies.

Sarah Petrevan, Clean Energy Canada

A passionate policy advocate and commentator, Sarah works to advance policies that support clean energy and tackle climate change. With more than a decade of public policy experience, Sarah works to promote policies and programs that help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while creating jobs and a strong economy. Sarah serves as a board member of Blue Green Canada, and regularly collaborates with industry and business leaders to advocate for policies and programs to leverage Canada’s clean energy opportunity. Before joining Clean Energy Canada, Sarah held several senior positions within the Government of Ontario, and worked for a leading non-profit. She holds a degree in political science with a specialization in public policy. Most recently, Sarah is the recipient of the 2018 Clean 50 Emerging Leader Award, in recognition for her leadership in clean capitalism. She is based in Toronto.

Matt Wayland, IBEW

Matt Wayland began in the Canadian office of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) in 2011. The IBEW represents close to 70,000 members across the country in a variety of sectors including Manufacturing, Telecommunications, Voice Data Video, Utilities, Construction, Maintenance, Radio and Television, Sound and Alarm systems, Railroads, Shipyards, Pulp and Paper Mills, Mining, Tree Trimming, Health Care and Government employees.

Matt has raised the IBEW’s profile with various levels of politicians of all party stripes bringing issues that matter most to IBEW members, to the attention of policy and decision makers.

In April of 2018, Matt was appointed by the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, to the Task Force on Just Transition for Canadian Coal Power Workers and Communities.

In August of 2018, Matt was named the Executive Assistant to the International Vice President (IVP) and Canadian Director of Government Relations by IBEW IVP Tom Reid. In August of 2019, Matt was appointed by the Prime Minister and Minister of Employment, Workforce

Development and Labour as one of the Co-Chairs for the Ministerial Advisory Committee on a National Campaign to Promote the Skilled Trades as a First Choice Career for Young People.

Matt is a licensed red-seal electrician and has been a proud member of IBEW Local Union 303 in St. Catharines, ON. Prior to his current role, Matt served his Local Union in several capacities.

With a focus on engaging a national audience in critical political and economic debates in this uncertain and unprecedented time, the Broadbent Institute’s 2020 Digital Convening Program is facilitating shared learning, strengthening and building our networks across the country, and working to advance lasting and meaningful progressive policy.