 It's great to be here tonight with so many outstanding members of the Canadian Electricity Association. I know that people traveled from all across Canada to be here tonight, so welcome. And I know a number of you took a very long flight. And I'm sure I'm not the only one who's done this, but when I fly at night, I often look down. When we're to see where we're going over a city or a town, note the dots of light from streets and houses and soccer pitches, all connected in these neat little grids and this warm fuzzy glow. It's funny, but until you're up in the air, you might not realize how these lines of light link us to our friends and neighbors. How electricity connects us as communities and runs through our daily lives. As the Canadian Electricity Association, that's what you do. You power our lives every day. And ever since CEA became the national voice for the electricity sector almost 130 years ago, you've been building a brighter Canada. It's not just because you made nearly $70 billion in capital investments this year alone. It's because Canadians can count on the people in this room to deliver safe, reliable power. Now that we're more and more reliant on plugging things into sockets, electricity is the lifeblood of our day-to-day lives. And because the people here do such a good job, sometimes we take electricity, okay, always we take electricity for granted, only to notice how much we need it when the power goes out, because this is Canada, the great ice storm of 1998, the BC South Coast blackout three years ago, the tornadoes here in Ottawa and Gatineau just this past September. While the rest of us hunker down with candles and blankets, line workers and technicians get to work. Since extreme weather is becoming increasingly familiar to us all, instead of a rare exception, that work is going to be more important than ever. And I know that we can count on you. The people in this room go above and beyond to help Canadians in need. Just look at the 13 winners of the 2018 CEA Lifesaver Awards. These everyday heroes helped the victims of car and bus crashes and provided first aid in an emergency. On behalf of all Canadians, thank you. But of course that's not the only way you are all making a difference. You're also making sure that Canadians can afford to turn on the lights in the evening as their kids do homework, to turn up the heat when their grandparents feel cold. Because the reality is that many families are facing rising living costs and wages aren't always keeping pace. Right from day one, our government has been focused on how we can make life better for the middle class and people working hard to join it. No matter whether it's putting money back into the pockets of families with the Canada child benefit or creating new job opportunities for people by negotiating trade deals that are good for Canadians. My dear friends, our government works with you to ensure that electricity remains affordable for Canadians. I will talk more in detail about innovation in a few moments, but an important part of this work is to find new ways to manage our natural resources. We have started the work. We are working with the stakeholders in the sector to help people preserve electricity. When people use the energy in a more efficient way, they can not only save money, but also help protect the environment, and everyone wins. And let's remember that there's still lots of work to be done, because there are families, especially in remote Northern and Indigenous communities, that don't have access to affordable or reliable electricity. That holds people, that holds communities back. But the good news is that by working together, we can do something about it. In fact, we've already gotten started. Our government invested in Watene... Watene... I used to know this word when I made an announcement... Watene Ginaip powers project to connect the Pekanjakum First Nation community and 16 others to Ontario's power grid. For other rural and remote communities, we're investing $220 million to reduce reliance on diesel fuel and help people use more sustainable, renewable power. Together, we can ensure that everyone sees the benefits of clean, safe electricity, healthier air, and less money spent on expensive fuel. Not to mention the prosperity that electricity sector jobs can bring to a community. Because affordable, reliable power isn't the only way that this industry helps families day-to-day. The Canadian electricity industry employs over 80,000 people. These are well-paying, middle-class jobs that people can rely on. And thanks to the dedication of today's Occupational Health and Safety Award winners, they're safe jobs too. So our government is making smart, targeted investments in SIA members to create even more good jobs. Take, for example, our recent investment in Halagonia title energies project to harness marine renewable energy. It's not only a first-of-its-kind project, it'll also create 120 jobs for people in Nova Scotia. In an economy that is evolving rapidly, people are counting on safe and well-regulated jobs in the sector. So we have to think about what we can do to protect their future. For example, to increase the Canadian electricity trade, which, so to speak, already generates profits of $2.6 billion, will help ensure the strength of the industry for the coming years. And when it comes to electricity trade, we also have to talk about the collaboration between the provinces. I know that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Champagne are already following this approach and that there is a lot of potential in this area. Because it's by working from one end to the other in the country that we can help everyone take advantage of clean and high-quality energy produced here in Canada. Our government is there to help you find good ideas like that of creating a corridor for clean energy going from one ocean to another. We are ready to support your ambitious projects, projects that will produce results not only today but in the coming decades. I know that everyone here is well-equipped to handle a changing future. It's in the very nature of your work. Ever since inventors first harnessed the power of electricity, people have known that it's the way of the future. In the 1800s, they were thinking about electric light bulbs. In 2018, we're thinking about electric cars. You're powering our tomorrow, a future where Canada is a leader in clean tech and innovation. And you're already well on your way. The Canadian electricity sector with low-carbon emission nuclear generation and huge hydroelectric producers like Hydro-Quebec and BC Hydro is one of the cleanest in the world. And that's something you can all be very proud of. But better is always possible. And this industry is in a strong position to continue to lead. Look no further than tonight's winners of the Sustainable Electricity Awards and Nalcor Energy awarded the Sustainable Electricity designation. Our government is in your corner as you keep Canada ahead of the curve with your million-watt ideas. We're investing $2.3 billion to support clean technology and drive innovation in everything from wind and tidal power to solar panels. My dear friends, the clean tech sector has an immense potential. Our government supports an economy focused on clean growth that takes the measures to make sure that pollution is no longer free in our country. Once again, you are all leaders in that domain. More than 80% of Canada's electricity is produced without carbon emissions. So you're on the right path when we talk about reduction of emissions. It's a great example to follow for other sectors that want, as you are, to innovate with concrete measures to counter climate change. Of course, there's not much point in investing in world-class clean energy generation if we don't have the transmission and distribution infrastructure to match. It's something that leaders here at CEA talk about a lot. That's why we're supporting CEA members directly. Last month, we announced almost $5 million in funding for SASC Power to support their distribution modernization program. In August, we also announced an investment of $1.4 million in a smart grid project by Enmax Power to send extra renewable energy back into Calgary's grid for other people to use. These are just two examples of the projects that we're proud to support, projects that ensure that reliable, affordable power comes along with the promise of a healthy future for our kids and grandkids. So thank you for your commitment to energizing our communities for today and propelling us into an even brighter future. By working together, we can keep powering Canada and keep fueling those bright lights seen from your red-eye flights. Together, we can make sure that the next generation of astronauts will look down at Earth from space and see our world still tied together by those glorious lines of light. My friends, we all have the power to make that happen. Thank you.