Energy Efficiency Act

Moved the adoption of the report.

She said: Honourable senators, I rise today in my capacity as Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources to move the adoption of the third report on Bill S-4, An Act to amend the Energy Efficiency Act, as amended by the committee.

As you heard at second reading from the sponsor, Senator Wilson, Bill S-4 proposes measures to improve affordability for Canadian consumers and businesses through energy savings.

Given the unprecedented technological advances that have been made since the Energy Efficiency Act was passed in the early 1990s, this bill represents a necessary modernization of our energy efficiency standards and procedures.

This act was originally passed in 1992, but we live in a vastly different world than we did when my children were younger than my grandson is now. When it was adopted, the Energy Efficiency Act was visionary for its time. It established a federal foundation for strong energy efficiency regulations, enabling us to set minimum standards for residential, commercial and industrial products.

It is a legislative success story, but it is in need of an update to reflect the current reality. It strengthens the federal regulatory tool kit by updating definitions, broadening the scope to account for modern technologies and new market actors and expanding how energy efficiency standards can be applied, including to products, classes of products and product systems.

On April 14, 2026, the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources began its study on Bill S-4. The committee held eight meetings, received 11 written briefs and heard from 19 witnesses.

We heard from a diverse range of witnesses, including representatives from industry and manufacturing associations and academic and policy institutions, as well as consumer and environmental advocacy organizations and First Nations leadership.

The committee also welcomed testimony from the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, government officials and the Auditor General of Canada.

Thank you to everyone who appeared before the committee or submitted briefs. Your testimony and expertise were invaluable and played an important role in informing our work.

Three of the committee meetings were dedicated to clause-by-clause consideration. This was a collaborative effort that thoughtfully balanced the objectives of the bill with careful consideration of how its provisions would operate in practice. It was within this context that the committee examined and considered proposed amendments. During the process, five amendments and 11 observations were adopted in total.

The members of your committee determined that Bill S-4 could benefit from a few amendments.

In particular, our report includes: narrowing the definition of “energy efficiency standard” to speak to the bill’s intent while still targeting envisioned performance improvements; at times, adding the term “renewable” to update references to “alternative” energy sources, recognizing that renewable energy is now mainstream; broadening the framework that compares Canadian energy efficiency standards to encompass a wide variety of international standards; and shortening the timeline for the first parliamentary review of the Energy Efficiency Act from 10 years to 5 years to ensure more timely oversight of legislation affecting Canadian businesses and consumers.

The committee observes that the purpose of the bill is to modernize an essential regulatory framework at a time when energy efficiency is increasingly tied to economic competitiveness, innovation and the transition to a low-emission economy.

The committee’s amendments strengthen the bill by improving clarity and effectiveness. The amendments don’t change the intent of the bill — they sharpen it, where needed, and support implementation.

The framework can adapt to new technologies and changing consumer behaviour so that it does not become outdated, while also supporting affordability, emissions reduction, innovation and energy security by ensuring regulatory tools effectively deliver those outcomes in practice.

Bill S-4 is a timely and necessary modernization of Canada’s Energy Efficiency Act that responds to today’s economic, technological and environmental realities.

The bill supports innovation through regulatory flexibility, improves enforcement and consumer protection and modernizes rules for online sales and emerging technologies.

Overall, Bill S-4 is a future-focused and balanced reform that strengthens competitiveness, enhances transparency and accountability and ensures Canada’s energy efficiency framework remains effective in a rapidly evolving economy.

Before I conclude, I’d like to express my appreciation and take a moment to recognize the committee staff and members. I would like to extend our sincere thanks to our clerk, Catherine Cuerrier; our analysts, Emilie Doyon, Dana Fan, Sarah Lemelin-Bellerose, Natassia Ephrem and Caroline Mousseau; and Parliamentary Counsel Philippe Giguère.

I would also like to recognize the honourable senators serving on the committee, including the bill’s sponsor, Senator Wilson, for their dedication and commitment throughout the study of this legislation. Their expertise, careful consideration and professionalism were instrumental in advancing the bill to the report stage.

Colleagues, in conclusion, the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources recommends that the Senate adopt the third report on Bill S-4, together with the committee’s amendments and observations, as a necessary step in modernizing Canada’s energy efficiency standards and procedures.

Your committee also requests that the Government of Canada consider and address the appended observations.

Thank you, meegwetch.