In this episode of Road Chats, host Catherine Clark speaks with Bryan Detchou, Senior Director, Natural Resources, Environment and Sustainability at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, and Dr. Heather Exner-Pirot, Senior Fellow and Director of Energy, Natural Resources and Environment at the MacDonald-Laurier Institute, about the federal government's sweeping new rules on greenwashing — and how they’re hitting the oil and gas industry hardest. From high-stakes fines to vague standards and legal uncertainty, they explore how Bill C-59 is not only threatening transparency and innovation but also silencing legitimate sustainability efforts across the fuel and energy sector. If you’re in the business of powering Canada, this conversation is one you can’t afford to miss.

In this episode of Road Chats, presented by National Energy Equipment Inc., Catherine Clark sits down with John Eichberger, Executive Director of the Transportation Energy Institute, to discuss the Future-Ready Fleets campaign. This initiative, presented by the Canadian Transportation Council, aims to help fleet operators navigate the transition to low- and zero-emission vehicles by providing them with a comprehensive guide and a fleet conversion calculator. John highlights the importance of tailored solutions for medium- and heavy-duty vehicle operators, addressing the challenges of electrification and exploring alternative options like hydrogen and renewable natural gas. He also emphasizes the economic considerations of fleet decarbonization and how businesses can gain a competitive edge while supporting environmental goals. Tune in to learn how fleet managers can access these free resources and make informed decisions for a more sustainable future.

In this episode, Catherine Clark speaks to Anne Kothawala, President & CEO of the Convenience Industry Council of Canada, to explore Ontario’s decision to allow the sale of alcohol in convenience stores. They discuss the evolution of alcohol sales and the challenges, opportunities, regulatory hurdles, and demand this shift presents for convenience stores and fuel retailers.

Catherine Clark sits down with Jennifer Stewart, President of the Canadian Energy Marketers Association (CEMA), to discuss evolving trends and challenges in the energy marketing industry, focusing on sustainable practices, workforce development, and regulatory impacts.

In this episode of Road Chats, we talk to Ian Thomson, President of Advanced Biofuels Canada, about how energy-agnostic approaches – from clean fuels to electrification – can be designed to work together effectively in our quest to achieve net zero.

In this episode of Road Chats, we talk to Jeff Passmore, CEO of Passmore Group and Founding Chair of Scaling Up, about the bioeconomy and Canada’s need for an industrial strategy to advance our net-zero objectives.

In this episode of Road Chats, we talk to Michael Wolinetz, a Partner with Navius Research and an Adjunct Professor at Simon Fraser University, about Navius’ 2023 Biofuels in Canada report. We discuss the impact of current biofuel consumption on greenhouse gas emissions and what needs to happen to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

In this episode of Road Chats, we talk to SaskCanola Vice Chair Dean Roberts, who is also a farmer in Saskatchewan, about what the increased demand for biofuels means for canola farmers as they try to increase yields with limited acreage amid challenging climate conditions.

In this episode of Road Chats, we talk to Chris Vervaet, Executive Director of the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association, about the opportunities the Clean Fuel Regulations have created for his sector.

In this episode of Road Chats, we talk to Fred Ghatala, Director for Carbon and Sustainability for Advanced Biofuels Canada, about the seamless integration of the biofuels sector in the transport industry and how Canada can be a global leader in renewable fuel production.

In this episode of Road Chats, we talk to Jessica Friesen, CEO of Gales Gas Bars and Bob's Fast & Fresh Convenience, about how her operations have changed since COVID and how regulations are affecting retail operations, especially those doing business in the oil and gas sector.

In this episode of Road Chats, we talk to Fred Ghatala, Director for Carbon and Sustainability for Advanced Biofuels Canada, about the seamless integration of the biofuels sector in the transport industry and how Canada can be a global leader in renewable fuel production.

In this episode of Road Chats, we talk to Brendan Jordan of the Great Plains Institute in Minneapolis about how to decarbonize the transportation sector through biofuels, hydrogen, and electrification – plus the importance of cross-border cooperation between Canada and the U.S. as we move to net-zero emissions.

In this episode of Road Chats, we talk to Pathways Alliance President Kendall Dilling about getting to net-zero emissions by 2050 with the help of carbon capture storage and biofuels, plus regulatory challenges as the industry looks to the future to be competitive on the world stage.

In this episode of Road Chats, we talk to Michelle Belisle of Imperial Oil Limited about the company’s renewable energy project to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about three million metric tons per year, the challenges in meeting government regulations on carbon intensity, and her confidence that Imperial will continue to provide secure and reliable energy for decades to come.

In this episode of Road Chats, we talk to Lisa Stilborn, Vice President, Public Affairs at the Canadian Fuels Association, which represents the transportation fuels sector. Lisa discusses the challenges brought on by the pandemic, regulations, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the Inflation Reduction Act south of the border and what lies ahead for the sector on its pathway to net zero.

In this episode of Road Chats, we talk to Andrew Parsons, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology for Newfoundland and Labrador. His province has a plan to increase its offshore petroleum projects over the next seven years while advancing its status as a Clean Energy Centre of Excellence. Parsons says both objectives must be met for the province’s financial stability and to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

In this episode of Road Chats, we talk to Stephen Beatty, Vice President and Corporate Secretary of Toyota Canada. As Ottawa continues to make investments in the EV sector, Beatty, an advocate of hydrogen fuel technology, says consumers and the government need to look to both hydrogen fuel cell technology and e-fuels if we are to meet net-zero emissions by 2050.

In this episode of Road Chats, we talk to David Yager who has spent the last forty years working as a consultant and adviser in the oil and gas service industry. He is often called upon as an energy policy analyst and three years ago released a book titled, “From Miracle to Menace-Alberta, A Carbon Story. David talks about the politics of the oil and gas industry and the way forward for this sector.

In this episode of Road Chats, we talk to Ian Thomson, President of Advanced Biofuels Canada, an organization that works to promote the production and expand the usage of advanced biofuels across the country. Thomson has over 25 years’ experience in operations and industry development, including market development and sustainability.