An Act to establish a national strategy to end energy poverty

Summary#

Bill S-251, An Act to establish a national strategy to end energy poverty, would create a new law; the supplied text does not amend an existing Act. If enacted, it would require the federal Environment Minister to develop a national strategy, with the stated goal of eliminating energy poverty over time. The bill is proposed, not in force.

• The strategy must set national measures of energy poverty and a national target, including interim targets, to significantly reduce it.
• It must identify possible measures on household support, energy efficiency, housing conditions, consumer protections, building energy information, research and public reporting. These are requirements for the strategy to address, not direct requirements for households, landlords or energy providers to take those measures.
• The Minister must consult named groups, including provincial, territorial and municipal governments, Indigenous governing bodies and organizations, utilities, housing providers, consumer advocates, health experts and people experiencing energy poverty.
• The Minister must publish the strategy within two years after royal assent, then report on implementation and effectiveness within two years after the strategy is tabled and every five years after that.
• The Minister must appoint an advisory council of no more than 15 unpaid members to advise on the strategy. The Minister appoints its members and chair, and must publish an annual summary of its advice.

What it means for you#

• Households, tenants and homeowners: The bill would not itself provide energy-efficiency upgrades, affordability assistance or consumer protections. It would require the strategy to identify measures for these issues, and to address the circumstances of different communities and housing types.
• People experiencing energy poverty: The bill defines energy poverty as a household being unable, or at significant risk of being unable, to access energy services needed for health, comfort, safety and participation in society. It does not create an application process or a direct benefit.
• Landlords, sellers and energy providers: The bill would not directly require energy disclosures or impose minimum energy standards. The strategy must promote standardized energy information and disclosure at sale or lease, and collaboration toward minimum standards for rental and social housing.
• Governments and Indigenous bodies: The Minister must consult specified representatives and the strategy must address coordination among governments and Indigenous governing bodies. The bill does not set out how that coordination would work.
• The public: The strategy and later reports must be published online. The council’s advice must also be summarized publicly each year.

Money#

No cost information is in the available material.

• Council members would not be paid for their duties.
• The bill requires ministerial work on the strategy, consultations and reports, but gives no estimate for staff or other operating costs.
• It does not set out funding for household support, upgrades or other measures; those would need to be addressed through the strategy or other action.

What is unclear#

• The bill does not set a specific date for eliminating energy poverty, or prescribe the national metrics and interim targets.
• It does not require the federal government or other governments to carry out the measures the strategy identifies.
• It does not specify how the council’s advice must be considered or whether the Minister must respond to it.
• It does not explain how Indigenous rights and energy sovereignty would be reflected in specific measures.
• The text refers to the council as an “advisory board” in the chair and unpaid-member provisions, though it otherwise calls it an advisory council.
• The supplied material does not state a commencement date or the bill’s current parliamentary status.

Case for#

• A national strategy could give governments a shared way to measure energy poverty and track whether it is changing.
• The required focus on affordability, housing performance, health and well-being could help connect issues the bill identifies as related.
• Consultation and an advisory council could bring government, Indigenous, housing, utility and lived-experience perspectives into the strategy.
• Regular public reports could make it easier to see what measures have been implemented and whether they appear effective.

Case against#

• The bill requires a strategy, but does not itself fund or deliver upgrades, affordability measures or consumer protections.
• It sets no fixed end date or required numerical outcome for eliminating energy poverty; the strategy’s target is to significantly reduce it, with elimination as an objective over time.
• It leaves the content and strength of many proposed measures to the strategy, so the practical effect on households and housing providers is uncertain.
• The bill requires public reports but does not require the Minister to act on the council’s advice or explain why advice was not followed.