Energy literacy in Canada

Specifically, the earlier papers looked at the views among the general population of Canadians, business and policy leaders, and finally, aboriginal Canadians.1 For the purposes of the study, energy “literacy” is defined as fundamental understanding of energy — from the basic units of measurement (watts, British thermal units, etc.) to energy production and distribution, to the economic and enviro [...] Based on the three waves of research, Canadians have a broad, general knowledge of energy issues, such as the primary energy sources, the economic and environmental benefits of efficiency and conservation, the possible implications of energy projects for First Nations and the dependence on the U. S. market for Canada’s energy exports. [...] Given the economic impact, both positive and negative, that the rapid decline in oil prices has had on Canada, the fiscal and economic consequences of volatility in the energy sector has clearly raised the visibility of energy as a public-policy and, therefore, political issue. [...] The ranking Canadians give energy among the important issues facing the nation is crucial in guiding the development of policy so that it recognizes and responds to the depth of understanding and engagement required to facilitate an informed public discourse in pursuit of effective and sustainable public policy. [...] To put the Canadian energy sector in a global context, Canada is the fifth-largest oil producer in the world and has the world’s second-largest proven oil reserves, with more than 170-billion barrels in the oilsands alone.10 With advancements in technology, those reserves are anticipated to grow to 315-billion barrels, which would make the oilsands the largest recoverable oil deposit in the world.