Canada's power sector is in the midst of its most significant legal and regulatory transformation in years. Market reforms, clean energy expansion, landmark Indigenous partnerships, and major regulatory shifts are reshaping investment strategies and operational priorities from coast to coast.
Now in its 11th year, McCarthy Tétrault's Power Perspectives 2026 walks through the biggest developments province by province. In Alberta, a restructured energy market design and a bold AI data centre strategy targeting $100 billion in investment are signalling bigger changes ahead. Ontario saw its largest market overhaul since deregulation, with the IESO's Market Renewal Program improving price transparency alongside major new procurement rounds.
On the legal front, Indigenous co-ownership rights expanded through procurement programs and new court rulings — including a first-ever recognition of Aboriginal title on private land in BC. The federal government's new Major Projects Office has fast-tracked 11 projects worth $116 billion under a single-window authorization model, though questions around Indigenous consultation and federal-provincial coordination remain live issues.
For more in-depth coverage of project development, financing, M&A, regulatory compliance, procurement, and risk management across all major Canadian jurisdictions, read the full publication now.
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A market leader in providing legal support to the energy industry, McCarthy Tétrault’s National Energy Group helps clients make their most ambitious objectives a reality. From supporting the development, construction and financing of exciting and transformational projects to helping clients manage their projects’ social and environmental impacts, we have the expertise and foresight to mitigate risks and add value. We support developers, equity investors, lenders, major industrial and commercial users, operators, governments and government agencies with comprehensive insights into policies, key players, and stakeholders to successfully move energy projects through their life cycles. Discover how our team can help you.