Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Vice-Chairmen, and members of the committee.

I'm Jacob Irving and I'm the the president of the Canadian Hydropower Association. Our membership comprises the major hydro power generators in Canada and the industries that support them.

I would like to thank you for the opportunity to present today. With your permission I'll take some time to outline the importance of hydro power in Canada. My colleague, Dan Gibson, will then explain why the Fisheries Act is so important to our industry and provide some specific thoughts regarding this important legislative review.

The Canadian hydro power industry is world class. Not only are we the largest renewable energy producer in Canada, we are also the single largest source of electricity. Over 60% of the country's electricity comes from hydro power and because of hydro power Canada has one of the cleanest and most renewable electricity systems on the planet. Canada is the third largest hydro power producer in the world. This is impressive when you consider that number one is China with 1.3 billion people and number two is Brazil with 210 million people. Canada is third with only 36 million people. When it comes to hydro power Canada clearly boxes well above its weight class. Canada's installed hydro power capacity is over 78,000 megawatts, which is impressive. Even more impressive is our underdeveloped potential of 160,000 megawatts, more than double our current installed capacity.

Hydro power produces zero air pollution and it is as close to zero greenhouse gas emissions as you can get. Hydro power is essential in the fight against climate change and climate change poses a threat to fisheries in Canada and around the world. In fact, just last month Environment Canada released Canada's mid-century, long-term, low greenhouse gas development strategy during recent climate negotiations in Marrakesh. This document reviewed seven different independent studies that each described how Canada could reach its ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals. The one common thread throughout all the studies was the unanimous call for a major increase in Canadian hydro power generation.

While it offers significant environmental benefits the industry recognizes that hydro power facilities impact the natural environment. This is why we are subject to comprehensive regulation at both the federal and provincial levels. Our members recognize that they have a responsibility to ensure their activities do not undermine the natural environment. That environment is particularly important when fisheries are involved, whether they are aboriginal, commercial, or recreational. Fisheries, like the hydro power industry, rely on healthy aquatic systems.

We continue to work collaboratively with indigenous peoples, stakeholders, regulators, and policy-makers. We appreciate the opportunity to address this committee in the same spirit.

At this point, I'd like to invite the chair of our fisheries working group, Mr. Dan Gibson, to present some highlights from our written submission.

Thank you.

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