National Newswatch | New research shows that engaged women know that…

New Leger’s studyin partnership with Canada Powered by Women, a non-partisan organization representing the voices of 5.6 million engaged women, shows that 59% of this subset of Canadian women now consider energy too expensive, an increase of 13% from 2023.

This sentiment grows stronger the more this group learns about energy policy and its impacts – because Canadian women are a key voting demographic, this information is crucial for policymakers of all kinds.

So why exactly do women see the need for sound energy policy in Canada?

Let’s start with the everyday impact on our wallets, a recurring theme in the data – 89 per cent of engaged women in Ontario are concerned about the impact of future energy policy on their personal finances. The women involved see energy as too expensive, and with carbon taxes rising, it’s hard to imagine costs coming down any time soon.

Based on data collected last fall, the belief that energy is unavailable has increased significantly and is even more evident in some areas of our country. In Alberta, 3 in 5 involved women say current and proposed policies have hit their living standards particularly hard.

Given that 56 per cent of engaged women support the responsible development of the resources of the Canadian economy and Canadian families, the conclusion is that engaged women want the government to fully embrace Canadian energy.

Engaged women are concerned about the affordability crisis and the link between it and sound energy policy – 87 percent of respondents believe future policies will further harm their finances, with half expecting higher energy bills, higher fuel costs and higher taxes. This is an important issue for every elected official to evaluate whether current approaches to energy policy include Canadian women.

Women know that incentives and innovation can be used to ensure the energy sector grows while reducing emissions. 75 percent of engaged women support innovation and new technologies to increase energy production, and 55 percent support a cleaner energy mix that includes fossil fuels, especially natural gas. It is our government’s responsibility to ensure its policies support innovation in Canada’s energy sector to meaningfully leverage our opportunities and reduce emissions.

It’s time. The federal government can achieve a balance that engaged women will support. Canada must adopt sound energy policy and encourage the adoption of new technologies to boost energy production and give us a chance to lead on the world stage.

The question remains for governments at all levels – will you meet the needs of women across Canada who have growing voting and purchasing power, or will the priorities of committed women be ignored?

Tracey Bodnarchuk is one of the founders and CEO of Canada Powered by Women, an organization dedicated to engaging women in the energy transition to influence sound energy policy and economic prosperity.