Moderator:
Jane McDonaldBoard Member
Speakers:
Penny FavelVice-President, Indigenous Relations and Sustainability, Hydro One
Christopher HendersonFounding Executive Director, Indigenous Clean Energy
Patrick TomlinsonIndigenous Relations Project Manager, BC Hydro
Saga WilliamsSenior Advisor, FNMPC
Thursday January 23, 2025
- 1:00 - 2:00 pm ET
Building Indigenous Economic Participation Into Canada’s Future: What’s Working and What’s Not?
Webinar Summary
As Canada transitions to a cleaner energy future, Indigenous nations and some utilities are redefining what “meaningful participation” means in practice. What are some examples of equity participation as demand for energy infrastructure increases, and how are utilities leading the way in the development of equitable, prosperous Indigenous participation models?
“The nature of [renewable] energy projects is changing dramatically. But generically, they lend themselves to long-term partnerships that are stable, generative, and positive,” says Chris Henderson, founding Executive Director of Indigenous Clean Energy, who argues that percent interest is meaningless without the proper terms. “At the end of the day, 50% interest can mean almost nothing if the terms aren’t there. Who makes the decisions? What’s the return? What does that mean for procurement rights, employment rights? One of the things that we strive to do in ICE programming is help equip Indigenous communities with the know-how to negotiate the terms.”
For Saga Williams, Senior Advisor at the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, the focus is on ensuring communities have the knowledge and capacity to engage in projects taking place on their own land. “The feedback we’ve gotten from our members is they need the capacity to understand the opportunities that the energy sector provides them, including how they can participate in gaining equity shares in the projects that are developing around them.”
One thing the panel agreed on: demand for abundant, affordable electricity shows no signs of slowing, and Indigenous nations need to be at the table to meet it. “Ontario is transforming, the grid is doubling, we need all hands on deck in terms of generation,” emphasized Penny Favel, VP of Indigenous Relations and Sustainability at Hydro One. “Indigenous communities are increasingly going to be part of those projects, simply because this is a race to get energy where it needs to be, in a way that is efficient and effective.” Hydro One’s Equity Partnership Model gives the option for First Nations to take up to 50% equity ownership in transmission line projects exceeding $100 million.
Another industry-leading participation model is BC Hydro’s recent clean energy procurement process, which includes a 25% First Nations ownership requirement. “DRIPA [the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act] really has been a game changer, in a good way, [in that it has] created some uncertainty and disruption for everyone,” says Patrick Tomlinson, Indigenous Relations Project Manager at BC Hydro. “It has brought about a long-overdue emphasis toward co-development of new and better ways of working together.”
Moderator
Jane McDonald
Board Member
Jane McDonald is the Vice President of Climate and Nature Solutions. Previously, she led two of Canada’s major sustainable economy think tanks, Smart Prosperity and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). She is a member of Canada’s Generation Energy Council, which produced the first energy vision for Canada consistent with the country’s climate goals, and the Farmers for Climate Solutions Task Force. She is a Director of The Transition Accelerator, and a delegate to the Net-Zero Data Public Utility, the world’s first global repository for private sector climate transition-related data freely accessible to all.
Jane began her career in the private sector, launching new environmental markets at New York investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald where she brokered some of the first-ever carbon credit deals between large energy companies and international projects. She then directed a successful advocacy effort to have renewable electricity from major Canadian utilities included in President Obama’s Clean Power Plan.
From 2015-2106 she served as Policy Director in the office of Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, through the signing of the Paris Agreement, the adoption of a national climate strategy and the implementation of a national price on carbon pollution.
In 2020, she joined an independent group of Canadian finance, policy and sustainability leaders who formed the Task Force for a Resilient Recovery, publishing a roadmap for a long-term COVID recovery strategy to keep Canada competitive in the fast-growing global clean economy.
Outside of her work, Jane has taught as an Adjunct Professor of Environmental Finance at the University of Toronto, served on the board of many non-profits, is a 2007-2008 Action Canada Fellow and a 2024 winner of the Clean50 Award.
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Speakers
Penny Favel
Vice-President, Indigenous Relations and Sustainability, Hydro One
Penny Favel joined the Hydro One team in October of 2020 as Vice-President Indigenous Relations, a role integral to the execution of our corporate strategy and in particular, becoming a Trusted Partner for Indigenous communities. In 2023 she became the Vice-President Indigenous Relations and Sustainability, and was appointed as the CEO and President of Hydro One Remote Communities Inc.
Under Penny’s leadership, Hydro One developed a strategic approach to Indigenous Relations, based on a clear vision and principles to address meaningful Reconciliation. Penny has worked across the organization to achieve meaningful change and set new targets that help the organization achieve its strategic priorities for Reconciliation. In 2021, Penny led the development of the industry-leading First Nations Equity Partnership model for all new major Transmission Projects, which offers 50% equity on all new Transmission lines over $100 million, and meaningful opportunities to work in partnership with Indigenous communities through procurement, project committees and training.
Prior to joining Hydro One, Penny held senior roles in the energy sector as Vice-President of Environment, Land and Indigenous Relations, as well as Sustainability in Canada and the US. Penny was raised in Saskatchewan and attended the University of Saskatchewan for both her undergraduate and law degrees. She had a 20-year career in law, primarily serving as a commercial construction lawyer in Alberta before moving into Stakeholder and Indigenous Relations.
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Christopher Henderson
Founding Executive Director, Indigenous Clean Energy
Chris Henderson is a Canadian eco-entrepreneur and environmental innovator. He is among the country’s foremost energy transition commentators. Chris has held a spectrum of prominent leadership positions at the intersection of clean energy, Cleantech, climate change, and sustainable prosperity for over four decades. He offers transformative analysis to accelerate Canada and the World’s transition to a clean energy future. Chris is particularly known as a Strategist, and for his outstanding skills in Designing and Implementing transformative energy policies, financing innovation, and kick-starting large-scale, high-impact projects essential for a low emissions electrification economy. He has led and is passionate about catalyzing ground-breaking environment, sustainability and clean energy initiatives that have had pan-Canadian and global resonance. His first book Aboriginal Power was published in 2013. He is authoring a trilogy of books presenting ground-breaking energy transformation ideas and insights to catalyze national and global dialogue – fostering just and impactful collaborations.
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Patrick Tomlinson
Indigenous Relations Project Manager, BC Hydro
Patrick Tomlinson works on BC Hydro’s Business Operations and Negotiations team in the company’s Indigenous Relations department. Most recently, Patrick has contributed to the Call for Power, the North Coast Transmission Line and to other files with a strong focus on First Nations co-ownership and the principles of UNDRIP. He earned an MBA from M.I.T, an MPA from the Kennedy School of Government, and an M.Phil. from Memorial University of Newfoundland.
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Saga Williams
Senior Advisor, FNMPC
Saga Williams, LL.B. is the principal and owner of AS Williams Consulting, is an Advisor to the First Nations Major Projects Coalition on Critical Mineral Development and supports a number of exploration and mining companies in their Indigenous Relations outreach. She is a band member and resident of Curve Lake First Nation. Through her maternal relations, she is also a member of the Namekosipiing Anishinabeg community of Lac Seul First Nation, located in the Treaty #3 area. After graduating with an Indigenous Studies (Hons.) degree from Trent University and a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, Saga was called to the Ontario Bar in 2000.
With over 20 years experience, Saga has been involved in the successful implementation of a number of high-profile initiatives, including energy, mining, economic and policy development projects and land claims settlements.
Saga was an elected Councillor for her community and served a three-year term, holding three portfolios and chaired a number of community-based committees. Over her years working with First Nations governments, and holding a leadership position, Saga has gained an expertise in governance structures, policies and processes. Saga has also advised Cabinet Ministers and Indigenous leaders on Indigenous and Government Relations. Saga teaches as an Osgoode Hall Law School Adjunct Professor, introducing law students to issues of Indigenous rights, reconciliation and negotiation, was the Chair of a national, non-profit youth services board and currently sits as a Director on a number of publicly traded mining boards. Saga is currently working with the First Nations Major Projects Coalition as a Senior Advisor, leading the Critical Mineral development file, as well as supporting equity ownership in mining infrastructure, mines and the value chain supporting mineral devleopment.
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