Energy Sector Sustainability Table

Economic Scan of Canada's Energy Sector

The energy system plays an integral role in the environmental, economic and social fabric of Canada. Discussions around the ESST have reflected the view that Canadians (governments, business and industry, key stakeholders and the general public) should have a full appreciation of the significance of energy in the country’s economy and environment.

In light of this, the ESST tasked Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada to work with key stakeholders to develop two products – the Environmental Scan and the Economic Scan. The two products serve as companion reports intended to provide important environmental and economic information to help decision-makers and policy-makers make sustainable choices and to inform public attitudes and perceptions about energy and its role in Canada.

NRCan led the development of the economic scan, which provides a n overview of the contribution of the energy sector to Canada’s economy, including such macroeconomic variables as value added, external trade, employment, expenditures and government revenues; and a better understanding of the magnitude and distribution of Canada’s varied energy resources, together with baseline information on production and consumption.

Important note: facts and statistics presented throughout this document reflect information available at the end of 2007.  All sources of data and information are clearly identified throughout the document, allowing readers to check for more recent facts and statistics as they become available.