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Powering Canada’s Future: Ensuring Access to Affordable, Reliable and Clean Electricity in New Brunswick

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DIEPPE, NB, Dec. 8, 2024 /CNW/ – In the 21st century, a reliable and affordable clean electricity grid is the backbone of a strong economy. Today more than 80 per cent of Canada’s electricity is generated from clean sources like hydropower, wind, solar, and nuclear – and it’s a big part of the reason why companies are choosing to invest in Canadian workers and business. In New Brunswick, renewables projects are already creating good jobs and delivering more affordable power to the grid. By taking action to expand clean power, new economic opportunities are being unlocked while families and workers are getting ahead.

Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault and the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc announced over $1 billion in additional investments to ensure that as New Brunswick’s electricity demands grow substantially over the coming years, we meet demand with clean electricity that is both reliable and affordable. NB Power estimates the following investments could help power up to 140,000 homes.

Up to $1 billion in federal support for up to 670 megawatts of Indigenous-led wind projects through the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) Clean Power priority sector and Indigenous Equity Initiative as well as Natural Resources Canada’s Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways program (SREPs).$25 million from SREPs for the 25-megawatt Neweg Energy wind project, a partnership with the New Brunswick Mi’kmaq First Nations.$500,000 to the North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council to provide seven Mi’kmaq Nations in New Brunswick resources and technical support and enable direct participation in clean energy opportunities.A commitment from Canada to work with New Brunswick and NB Power to support the conversion of the Belledune Generating Station from coal-fired power to biomass.$1.6 million from Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) to further investigate the conversion through engineering and planning studies, this is in addition to a previously announced $2 million from ACOA to evaluate different biomass fuel options.$25 million to NB Power for predevelopment work for up to 600 megawatts in new small modular reactor (SMR) capacity at the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generation Station through NRCan’s Electricity Predevelopment Program.$1.3 million to NB Power for predevelopment work on the modified Atlantic Loop transmission line between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia through NRCan’s Electricity Predevelopment program.

The Ministers also announced that the Government of Canada and the Government of New Brunswick have reached a common understanding on the forthcoming Clean Electricity Regulations that will provide the flexibilities needed to enable New Brunswick’s electricity system to grow and decarbonize all while ensuring it will be affordable, reliable, and non-emitting. 

The federal and provincial governments, in collaboration with First Nations partners, have already been partnering through the New Brunswick Regional Table to identify and accelerate shared economic priorities for a net-zero future in the province’s energy and resource sectors. Investments announced today demonstrate the commitment to continue to collaborate and to take action to grow and decarbonize the electricity grid.

As demand for electricity grows, the opportunity to power our communities and the world with clean, affordable, and reliable power is a win-win-win – for workers, for affordability, and for the environment. The Government of Canada’s plan is working to drive GHG pollution down while the economy grows and inflation cools. Together, with provinces and territories, Indigenous Peoples, municipalities, industry and workers, the Government of Canada is seizing the opportunity ahead to build a strong economy with good jobs, and to ensure a healthy environment for our children and grandchildren.   

Quotes

“Canadians are leaders in generating clean electricity that powers our communities and beyond. Today’s shared commitment with New Brunswick is a clear signal that investing in clean electricity in New Brunswick creates jobs, drives economic growth, and positions New Brunswickers to take advantage of the economic opportunities presented by the clean economy, now and into the future. The federal government is a partner as we build a 21st century economy, underpinned by a clean electricity system, that places affordability and reliability at its core.”

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

“This is a very exciting day for New Brunswick. Our two governments are united by a common goal of building a clean grid in New Brunswick that can power homes and businesses with clean, reliable and affordable electricity. Switching to clean electricity can save New Brunswickers money on their monthly bills, while building that cleaner grid means more quality unionized jobs. Making sure our grid is zero-emitting is a major step to fighting climate change, truly a win-win-win for everyone.”

The Honourable Steven Guilbeault
Minister of Environment and Climate Change

“Across Canada, the Canada Infrastructure Bank is making investments in provincial energy systems which will enable new generation, storage and transmission while minimizing ratepayers impacts and creating greater Indigenous ownership opportunities. We are pleased to play lead role in helping New Brunswick with its call for a significant increase in the use of renewable energy which will ensure the province’s grid has enough power to meet future demand.”

The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc
Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs

“Across Canada, the Canada Infrastructure Bank is making investments in provincial energy systems which will enable new generation, storage and transmission while minimizing ratepayers impacts and creating greater Indigenous ownership opportunities. We are pleased to play lead role in helping New Brunswick with its call for a significant increase in the use of renewable energy which will ensure the province’s grid has enough power to meet future demand.”

Ehren Cory
CEO of the Canada Infrastructure Bank

“This Government of Canada investment will help power New Brunswick’s shift from coal to renewable energy, that means more affordable and more reliable power for families, not to mention good jobs for energy workers across the province.”

The Honorable Gudie Hutchings
Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

“We are very happy to be collaborating with federal and First Nations partners to grow our economy and decarbonize our electricity grid. Ensuring affordable and reliable energy for New Brunswickers and making progress on our clean energy commitments are priorities for our government.”

The Honourable Susan Holt
Premier of New Brunswick

“We have exciting opportunities before us that will lead to a cleaner environment, more economic growth, and most importantly, an affordable and secure energy supply for New Brunswickers. Here in New Brunswick, as well as throughout the Atlantic provinces, we face the highest rates of energy poverty in the country. This new federal funding for our priorities as well as investment in Indigenous led wind projects takes a step closer to meeting our clean energy goals and commitments.”

The Honourable René Legacy
Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Energy, Minister of Finance and Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act

Quick Facts

The Government of Canada’s Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs) is a $4.5-billion program designed to support the deployment of clean electricity to ensure a reliable, affordable and decarbonized electricity system.The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) is supporting renewable power procurements in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The CIB’s Clean Power sector has a target to invest at least $10 billion in projects which allow Canadians to access more reliable and secure energy, create jobs and cut emissions.In addition, the CIB’s Indigenous Equity Initiative provides loans to Indigenous communities to provide them with access to capital to purchase equity stakes in projects in which the CIB is also investing. Economic returns from these projects can be reinvested, narrowing the economic and infrastructure gap among Indigenous communities.In Atlantic Canada, ACOA is delivering $55 million under the Canada Coal Transition Initiative. The initiative is set to end on March 31, 2025.NRCan’s Electricity Predevelopment Program is a $250-million program to support pre-development activities of clean electricity projects such as inter-provincial electricity transmission projects and small modular reactors, critical for supporting economic development through investments in new infrastructure and the enhanced security and reliability of our clean energy supply.Powering Canada’s Future combines historic investments and balanced, fair regulations to ensure new electricity production in Canada is built with the affordable, reliable, clean, and renewable energy sources that Canadians expect.Across Canada, electricity operators are taking advantage of the more than $60 billion over the next decade in federal support to help build 21st century electricity grids.All G7 countries have committed to build a net-zero grid as a foundational measure for enabling achievement of net zero economies by 2050.Electrification is helping to save families money on their energy bills, such as by driving hybrid trucks or installing all-season heat-pumps that have lower operating costs. These cost-saving technologies are supported by purchase incentives and rebates programs from the Government of Canada, helping to put hundreds of dollars more in the pockets of Canadian families every month.Besides significant cost savings, several studies have found that clean electricity can enable lower and more stable electricity bills, since the shift away from fossil fuel electricity also protects ratepayers from volatile electricity prices caused by global price shocks associated with coal and natural gas-powered electricity. For example, Manitoba, Quebec, British Columbia, and Ontario largely operate cleaner electricity grids that provide stable and affordable power and energy reliability during the coldest winter days.

Related Information

Statement: Ensuring Access to Affordable, Reliable and Clean Electricity in New BrunswickJoint Policy Statement on Developing and Transmitting Clean, Reliable and Affordable Power in Nova Scotia and New BrunswickSmart Renewables and Electrification Pathways ProgramCanada Infrastructure Bank’s Clean Power Priority Sectors Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)Powering Canada Forward: Building a Clean, Affordable, and Reliable Electricity System for Every Region in Canada2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Clean Air, Strong Economy

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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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Marquis Who’s Who Honors Rupin Chothani for Engineering Leadership

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UNIONDALE, N.Y., July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Marquis Who’s Who honors Rupin Chothani for his leadership in engineering and project management. With more than two decades of professional experience to his credit, Mr. Chothani leverages a unique expertise in fire and petrochemical solutions to find success in his field. As project manager, project engineer and proposal manager at Technip Energies N.V., Mr. Chothani ensures effective results.

Drawn to Engineering

Coming from a family of engineers, Mr. Chothani was naturally drawn to the profession. This inclination was reinforced by comprehensive aptitude and attitude tests administered at the age of 14, which highlighted his strengths in engineering and architecture. Ultimately, this direction reinforced his determination to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.

By 2003, Mr. Chothani earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Mumbai. After a brief role as a junior manufacturing engineer at Artech Cooling Tower Pvt. Ltd., he completed a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bridgeport in 2006. In addition to these degrees, Mr. Chothani later achieved AutoCAD certification.

Following his graduation in 2006, Mr. Chothani joined CB&I Lummus / ABB Lummus Heat Transfer (now Lummus Technology) as a thermal engineer. Though his work at Lummus Technology lasted only three years, Mr. Chothani was greatly influenced by mentor figures at the company. These mentors, including Ken Catala, Peter Harvard, Chin Dang and Miller Alanath Carter, provided essential guidance.

Building a Family

In December 2008, Mr. Chothani married his wife, Cathy. Along with his son and daughter, his family has contributed richly to his success in engineering and they continue to inspire him to excel. In addition to their support, Mr. Chothani recognizes that there is no alternative to hard work and dedicated learning.

From Lummus Technology to Technip Energies N.V.

Following his work at Lummus Technology, Mr. Chothani worked with Maco Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. By 2011, he joined Complete Heat Transfer Solutions – Environ Energy Systems as a thermal and mechanical engineer. By 2013, Mr. Chothani became a part of Technip Energies N.V. as a furnace mechanical engineer. By 2023, he added to this role and became a project manager, project engineer and proposal manager at the company.

In his current role at Technip Energies N.V., Mr. Chothani is responsible for a variety of essential duties. He manages and executes on engineering projects for ethylene cracking furnaces and heaters, and oversees proprietary technologies. Additionally, he actively coordinates with procurement, logistics, mechanical engineering and process engineering teams to ensure effective results.

Plans for the Future

Moving forward, Mr. Chothani hopes to advance his project management skills, particularly within the firejet industry. At the same time, he aims to share his knowledge of the industry with the next generation of professionals. Outside of his professional ambitions, Mr. Chothani intends to prepare his children to find success, inspiring them and their peers with hands-on experiments and full-day events.

About Marquis Who’s Who®:

Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms worldwide. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

Marquis Who’s Who
Uniondale, NY
(844) 394 – 6946
info@marquiswhoswho.com
www.marquiswhoswho.com

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COALITION OF INDEPENDENT INTERNET PROVIDERS ASKS CRTC TO FIX ERRORS IN WHOLESALE FIBRE RATES

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Coalition of competitive ISPs say current fibre rates make competition impossible and threatens to harm millions of Canadian consumers

CHATHAM, ON, July 23, 2026 /CNW/ — A coalition of independent internet service providers (the Coalition) led by TekSavvy Solutions Inc. (TekSavvy) today applied to the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to review and vary Telecom Order 2026-77, which set final wholesale rates for fibre internet services. In that decision, the CRTC approved wholesale rates for fibre internet services that are higher than the retail prices charged by the large carriers. This makes competition impossible, as independent providers are forced to either sell at a loss or set prices above the large carriers, leaving millions of Canadian consumers without competitive options for essential internet services.

The application identifies key errors that led the CRTC to approve severely inflated final wholesale rates, which make it economically impossible for independent providers to compete. The Coalition argues that the CRTC’s incorrect rates negate the very purpose of Canada’s wholesale framework, which is to foster competition in retail broadband markets. Specifically, the Coalition asks the CRTC to make three key changes to Telecom Order 2026-77:

Eliminate one cost factor that is inconsistent with the CRTC’s established costing principles, which artificially increased fibre wholesale rates by an estimated 25% to 30% (the Adjustment Factor).Reduce another element of the costing that is inflated above reasonable levels: The Coalition calls on the CRTC to reduce the markup applied to wholesale fibre services from 30% to 15%, reflecting declining costs, operational efficiencies, and the need to support competition.Correct technical errors relating to certain wholesale fibre speed descriptions.

“Canadians were promised greater competition for fibre internet services, but these rates make competition impossible.” said Andy Kaplan-Myrth, TekSavvy’s Vice President of Regulatory and Carrier Affairs. “The CRTC must correct these errors to ensure its wholesale rates promote broadband competition that challenges the market power of monopoly incumbents, lowers prices, and increases consumer choice.”

About the Coalition

The Coalition consists of competitive telecommunications providers and industry associations advocating for fair wholesale access to fibre networks and a competitive broadband marketplace that delivers affordable, high-quality Internet services to Canadians, including: TekSavvy Solutions Inc., BC Broadband Association (“BCBA”), Canada-Wide Internet Service Providers Association (“CanWISP”), Fibernetics Inc., ISP Telecom Inc., National Capital FreeNet Inc., Novus Entertainment Inc. and Purple Cow Internet Inc.

About TekSavvy Solution Inc.

Based in Chatham, Ontario, TekSavvy is Canada’s largest independent telecom service company. TekSavvy has been proudly delivering award-winning services and fighting for consumers’ rights for nearly 30 years. TekSavvy is committed to providing quality competitive choice and closing Canada’s digital divide.

SOURCE TekSavvy Solutions Inc.

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Monk Launches Voice Collections, Bringing AI Phone Calls and Callbacks to Accounts Receivable

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Monk’s collections agent, Julia, can now place outbound collection calls and answer inbound AR questions from a dedicated business number, so finance teams can use the channel that collects best without adding headcount.

Multimedia: Watch Voice Collections in action: https://youtu.be/w09PoN1yACE 

NEW YORK, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Monk, the AI-native accounts receivable platform, today launched Voice Collections. Its collections agent, Julia, can now place outbound collection calls and answer inbound customer questions about invoices and payments from a dedicated phone number for each organization. The feature brings the phone, long the most effective collections channel and the hardest one to scale, into Monk’s Intelligent Collections.

Roughly $10 trillion sits in unpaid invoices worldwide, and the average invoice now takes 59 days to clear (Allianz). Most accounts receivable runs on email, and most of it waits. More than half of B2B invoices in the United States are overdue at any given time, and 92% of businesses are typically paid after their due date (Chaser, 2026). Phone calls recover overdue invoices two to three times better than email (Dunwise), yet 91% of finance teams still rely on email as their main follow-up channel and only 56% use the phone, because calling every overdue account by hand does not scale and a single human dunning call can cost $12 to $18 (HighRadius).

Voice Collections gives teams that coverage. Julia can call on the accounts a playbook flags for phone follow-up, and answer when a customer calls the same number back to ask about an invoice, a payment, or a bank detail. Businesses that follow up on 100% of overdue invoices are 76% more likely to be paid within a week (Chaser), and a voice agent is what makes full coverage possible.

Monk’s collections agent is already proven on the accounts it handles by email. Across Monk’s first 100 customers, Julia reaches customers with a 24% higher response rate than standard dunning and resolves 88.2% of collections with zero human intervention. Voice extends that reach to the phone.

“For years the assumption was that customers would not talk to an AI on the phone,” said George Kurdin, Founder and CEO of Monk. “The evidence now points the other way. People engage with a good voice agent, and in AR the phone was always the channel that collected best. We built Voice Collections so finance teams can finally use it at the scale email gave them.”

That assumption is worth retiring. In a University of Chicago Booth field study of roughly 70,000 interviews, people interviewed by a voice AI agent were 12% more likely to receive an offer, 18% more likely to start, and 17% more likely to still be there after 30 days, and 80% chose the voice AI over a human when given the choice. The setting was recruiting rather than collections, but the finding travels: given a capable voice agent, people lean in rather than hang up. A call also does something email cannot, which is secure a verbal promise to pay in the moment.

Built for finance, with the phone agents kept with strict guardrails

Voice in finance has to be constrained, and Monk designed Voice Collections around that from the start. The agent is read-only on the phone. It answers questions, confirms details, and routes the next step. It will not rewrite an invoice, change a payment status, or accept a sensitive payment change by voice.

The agent is also reference-based. If a caller asks about an invoice, Julia asks for both the company name and the invoice number before looking anything up, and it will not search broadly from a single detail. Every inbound and outbound call is kept in the collection record alongside the email history, so a callback is part of the same thread the team already sees, and anything that needs judgment escalates to a person.

“Voice in finance has to be careful by design,” said Joe Zhou, Co-Founder and CTO of Monk. “Julia will not browse across accounts or move money over the phone. A caller has to bring the company name and invoice number before it confirms anything, and every call lands in the record. In finance a 1% mistake is still unacceptable, so we built for that first and added the reach second.”

Teams run autonomous collections on Monk

Monk runs collections for finance teams at companies like Unify, Pump, Siro, and Elate, and Voice Collections extends what those teams already do by email onto the phone.

“We chose Monk to help automate our collections, a process previously demanding several hours a week of manual, one-off outreach,” said Will Stewart, Head of Finance and BizOps at Unify. “Today, our Monk agent is always running in the background and I have a single dashboard to manage AR from.”

At Pump, which manages volume across more than 1,500 customers, Monk has helped collect over $10 million in recent months.

Voice AI is now infrastructure

The timing reflects how far voice AI has come. It has moved from demo to infrastructure: Vapi has processed more than 1 billion calls, Bland handles over 3.5 million calls a week, and ElevenLabs raised a $500 million round at an $11 billion valuation in early 2026. Monk builds Voice Collections on that foundation and adds the part finance actually needs, which is the AR context, the controls, and the audit trail.

Voice Collections is available now as an opt-in feature. Monk configures the dedicated number and call behavior with each organization before turning it on in Collections. See it in action: https://youtu.be/w09PoN1yACE.

About Monk

Monk is the AI-native accounts receivable platform that helps finance teams turn revenue into cash. Its agent, Julia, runs collections, cash application, and forecasting as one connected system. Monk resolves 88.2% of collections with zero human intervention, reaches customers with a 24% higher response rate than standard dunning, reduces DSO by more than 40%, automatically matches 80% of incoming payments with a full audit trail, and gives finance teams back roughly 26 hours a month. Teams onboard in under a week and see results in their first month. More than $1.5 billion in receivables is managed on the platform, including for customers like Profound and ElevenLabs. Monk has raised $25 million and is based in New York.

Media contact
Kendall Warson
kendall@monk.com
+1 415-827-6585

Sources: Chaser 2026 Accounts Receivable research; Dunwise dunning research; HighRadius collection call cost analysis; University of Chicago Booth field study on AI in recruiting; voice AI figures compiled by Enterprise DNA; Federal Reserve data; Allianz Worldwide DSO survey.

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SOURCE Monk

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