Trade, Energy & the New North: CUSMA, Canadian Energy & Cross-Border Power

COWICHAN VS CANADA EVENT IMMEDIATELY PRECEDES THIS, YOU NEED TO REGISTER FOR BOTH, EO MEMBERS ONLY

Join us for an engaging lunch presentation featuring Dr. G. Cornelis “Kees” van Kooten, Professor Emeritus at the University of Victoria and former Canada Research Chair in Environmental Studies & Climate. Drawing on decades of work in natural-resource economics, trade policy, and energy systems, Dr. van Kooten will explore the evolving intersections of trade (CUSMA/USMCA) and energy markets, especially as they relate to British Columbia, Alberta, and cross-border electricity trade with the United States (notably California).

In his talk, you’ll hear about:

• The implications of CUSMA/USMCA for energy exports, tariffs, rules of origin, and integration of carbon/renewable policy (for example, electricity as a “product” under the agreement). YMAWS
• The economics of electricity generation in BC and Alberta under constraints of decarbonization, renewables adoption, and grid resilience
• Opportunities and challenges for Canadian (especially BC and AB) electricity exports to U.S. jurisdictions, with particular emphasis on California
• How pricing, transmission capacity, regulatory alignment, and carbon policy shape the viability of transboundary energy trade
• His perspective on what policy, investment, or market reforms might help Canada (or provinces) better leverage energy trade under modern carbon-constrained, trade-integrated regimes

This session is ideal for executive leaders, energy sector professionals, policy makers, and others interested in the future of Canadian energy trade, climate policy, and North American market integration.

Speaker Bio (brief)
Dr. G. Cornelis van Kooten is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Victoria, with deep expertise in agricultural economics, resource economics, forest and land use, environmental policy, and the economics of energy and climate. UVic.ca+2Trent University+2 Over the course of his career, he’s published extensively on topics such as wind vs. nuclear power, feed-in tariff design, forest carbon offset markets, grid integration, and the economics of cross-border energy trade. UVic.ca+2IDEAS/RePEc+2 He currently holds appointments as Adjunct Professor in Agricultural & Resource Economics at the University of Saskatchewan and Scholar in Residence at Trinity Western University. vkooten.net+1

Why This Matters

• British Columbia is a major electricity exporter to the U.S., with California being a key destination. Canada Energy Regulator+2Canada Energy Regulator+2
• In a world where climate policy, decarbonization, and carbon pricing evolve rapidly, successful energy trade depends not just on physical infrastructure, but on regulatory alignment, cross-jurisdiction policy coherence, and market incentives.
• As Canada and the provinces plan their energy strategies and international trade posture, understanding these dynamics will be crucial for decision makers, investors, and business leaders alike.

We look forward to a thoughtful, forward-looking discussion that bridges trade, energy, and climate policy for Canada’s futur