Canada is an energy superpower. So why are we acting like a sidekick?

Posted on May 22, 2025 by Taber Times

Should Canada be an “energy superhero”?

Should an “energy superpower” have “energy super powers”?

That space between super and powers matters.

This isn’t just wordplay—it’s a geopolitical, economic, technological and societal question. And for Canada, it’s one we urgently need to answer on all fronts.

The idea of Canada as an energy superpower resurfaced during the recent federal election campaign, with newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney reviving a long-standing narrative popularized by former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. But what does it actually mean?

In geopolitical terms, superpower status boils down to influence and clout—economic, military, technological, political and cultural. Carney hasn’t yet defined his version of energy superpower status, so we’ll need to see what form that vision takes in practice. But if the label is going to be used, Canada should ensure it reflects more than just resource abundance.

And by resource abundance alone, Canada qualifies. We’re among the top five global energy producers, with vast hydrocarbon reserves and world-class expertise in resource extraction. But for much of our history, we’ve acted like a middle power in this space, constrained by geography and infrastructure, and overly reliant on a single customer: the United States.

We have, in a sense, clipped our own wings.

Now we face a choice: continue underselling our energy potential or embrace a broader definition of energy leadership, one that includes environmental responsibility, technological innovation and global collaboration.

That’s where the idea of energy super powers comes in. Not in the traditional hard-power sense, but in the way popular culture understands superheroes: powers that are used for good. Powers that generate trust, credibility and confidence: Powers that build a brand.

What if Canada were to lead not just by what it sells, but by how it acts?

This broader framing opens new possibilities. In addition to hydrocarbons, we have deep expertise in clean tech, nuclear power, hydro and geothermal. For example, Canada is a global leader in small modular reactor technology, with Saskatchewan and Ontario leading pilot deployments. Our hydroelectric systems provide some of the cleanest baseload power on Earth, and our emissions regulations are among the strictest in the developed world.

These capabilities can’t just sit in the background. They need to be part of how Canada presents itself to the world. Our regulatory regimes, environmental standards and ability to manage trade-offs in a polarized global energy environment are assets we should leverage and export.

Meanwhile, the costs of doing nothing are growing. Countries that fail to define their energy identity risk losing investment, falling behind on innovation and becoming irrelevant in global climate and trade discussions. Canada has already seen projects stalled or cancelled due to a lack of national coherence.

And yet, for all our capacity, Canada has often failed to tell its story. We’ve been present at global tables but have been too quiet: Capable but hesitant. Trusted but modest.

That could change. The upcoming G7 summit—bringing together leaders of the world’s largest advanced economies—is scheduled for June in Kananaskis, Alta. It’s a rare opportunity to lead not just through policy papers but through example. Energy, climate and global stability will dominate the agenda.

Canada should seize this moment with intention. The federal government could table a comprehensive “Energy Super Powers Strategy”—one that positions Canada not just as a supplier of raw energy but as a trusted partner in global decarbonization and development. It would align our clean energy strengths, regulatory leadership and geopolitical voice into a single, exportable identity.

That’s how we build a brand. That’s how we build clout. And that’s how we move from energy superpower to energy superhero—for real.

Bill Whitelaw is a director and advisor to many industry boards, including the Canadian Society for Evolving Energy, which he chairs. He speaks and comments frequently on the subjects of social licence, innovation and technology, and energy supply networks.

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