Background
 

On October 22-24, 2006, the Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management at the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, will host a workshop focused on reshaping Canada’s approach to energy policy entitled, Developing Sustainable Energy Policy: Building Paths to a Low-Carbon Society. In partnership with the Ministry of Energy of the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Centres of Excellence, Centre for Energy, the Government of Canada and the Office of the Vice-President Research at the University of Western Ontario, the Lawrence Centre will bring together fifty representatives from business, government, non-governmental agencies and academia to discuss and advise on the implementation of sound and sustainable policies affecting the future of the world’s energy supply. The workshop is the second in a series initiated by the Centre for Global Studies at the University of Victoria and supported by the Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia in October 2005. Workshops will subsequently be held in Calgary and Montreal. We ask that you support our investigation to advance a plan to address Canada’s responsibility in sorting out the future of our energy supply. Canada does not exist in isolation and we recognize the global energy challenges. We must be clear about our own choices. Global innovators in the fields of energy production and adoption will lead workshop sessions. Participants will have meaningful dialogue on critical issues such as education, conservation, power generation and transmission, transportation, and policy lessons and reform. Keynote speakers from Canada, Europe and the United States will illuminate successful practices for Canadian industry, government and society. This workshop presents an invaluable opportunity for government, industry and academic leaders to come together in a neutral and supportive environment and have a frank discussion about the policy and economic framework that will help develop Ontario’s, and indeed Canada’s, energy infrastructure and supply for the future. To address the challenges of energy supply and demand, government, the private sector, academia and Canadians need to work together to proactively find solutions that lead to informed policy outcomes. The Lawrence Centre at the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario is committed to developing sound public policy by bridging these groups to think globally, act strategically, and contribute to the societies in which they operate. Sincerely,   Dianne Cunningham Director, Lawrence Centre