Is Canada ready to tell a clearer story about why its energy matters to the world?

In this episode of Power Struggle, Stewart Muir is joined by Dr. David Detomasi, Professor of International Business at Queen's Smith School of Business and author of Profits and Power: Navigating the Politics and Geopolitics of Oil, to examine why energy is never just a commodity—and why Canada keeps falling short of its own ambitions.

From classroom hostility toward fossil fuels to the geopolitical weight of LNG, pipelines, and critical minerals, Detomasi explains why the country has the ingredients to be an energy superpower but has yet to build the narrative—or the infrastructure—to become one.

They discuss:

• Why oil is a political instrument, not just a commodity
• The reality of global energy poverty and why two billion people still lack reliable power
• What it actually means to be an "energy superpower," and why the term has eluded Canada for 20 years
• The trade-offs of energy transition and the false either/or of carbon vs. renewables
• How Canadian LNG and natural gas can influence emissions in China, India, and Southeast Asia
• Trans Mountain, Bill C-69, and the lessons of getting big projects built
• Shifting public opinion, polling cycles, and the need for durable reasons to build
• What young people misunderstand about how the energy system actually works

This is a conversation about energy, narrative, and national purpose at a moment when Canada's global role is being rewritten in real time.

At a time when allies are scrambling for secure supply and the post-war trade order is fraying, Canada's resource wealth has rarely mattered more—or been more underused.

The question is no longer whether Canada has the ingredients to be an energy superpower, but whether it can finally explain why it should be one.

#PowerStruggle #Podcast #DavidDetomasi #EnergyPolicy #CanadianEnergy #EnergySuperpower #Geopolitics #LNG #OilAndGas #EnergyPoverty #ProfitsAndPower #QueensUniversity #EnergySecurity

Send us Fan Mail

The energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.

Reach out to us with thoughts, questions, or ideas at info@powerstruggle.ca

Linkedin
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

🎧 For audio versions of our podcast visit powerstruggle.ca and listen on the go in your favourite podcast app!
Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod

How do you power the places the grid forgot — and could nuclear be the answer?

In this episode, Stewart Muir is joined by Dr. Anthony Ciccone, Senior Vice President of the Global Nuclear Sector at WSP, to explore how small modular reactors could transform energy access in some of the most challenging environments on Earth.

From Canada’s Arctic to remote regions around the world, Ciccone explains why traditional energy solutions often fall short — and how advanced nuclear technologies are changing the equation.

They discuss:

• Why remote and northern communities still rely on diesel — and the risks involved
• How small modular reactors (SMRs) could provide reliable, low-carbon power
• Why nuclear and renewables are complementary, not competing technologies
• Canada’s advantage in nuclear innovation and reactor refurbishment
• The realities of nuclear waste — and how it’s managed
• The economics of nuclear energy and long-term cost considerations
• Energy needs of mining, military, and northern communities
• What the future of nuclear looks like in Canada and globally

This is a conversation about energy, infrastructure, and the realities of powering communities far beyond the grid.

At a time when energy security and sustainability are both critical priorities, nuclear is re-emerging as a practical solution — not just for cities, but for the most remote parts of the world.

The question is no longer whether nuclear is part of the future — but where it will be deployed first.

#PowerStruggle #NuclearEnergy #SMR #AnthonyCiccone #EnergyPolicy #CanadaEnergy #Arctic #EnergySecurity #CleanEnergy #RemoteCommunities

Send us Fan Mail

The energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.

Reach out to us with thoughts, questions, or ideas at info@powerstruggle.ca

Linkedin
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

🎧 For audio versions of our podcast visit powerstruggle.ca and listen on the go in your favourite podcast app!
Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod

Is the world entering a new era of energy instability — and is Canada ready for it?

In this episode, Stewart Muir is joined by Robert (R.J.) Johnston, Director of Energy and Natural Resources Policy at the University of Calgary and former CEO of Eurasia Group, to unpack the geopolitical forces reshaping global energy markets.

From rising tensions in the Middle East to shifting U.S. policy and growing competition for critical resources, Johnston explains why energy security is once again at the center of global decision-making.

They discuss:

• Why global energy markets are becoming more unstable
• The changing role of the United States in global trade and energy
• Canada’s opportunity — and why it hasn’t been fully realized
• LNG, oil exports, and the importance of market diversification
• The impact of geopolitical conflict on energy security
• Critical minerals, AI, and the growing demand for resources like copper
• The future of energy transition and shifting climate priorities
• What business leaders are most concerned about right now

This is a conversation about energy, power, and uncertainty in a world where geopolitics and markets are increasingly intertwined.

At a time of global disruption — from Ukraine to the Persian Gulf — energy is no longer just an economic issue, but a strategic one.

The question is no longer whether the world needs reliable energy — but which countries are prepared to supply it.

#PowerStruggle #RobertJohnston #EnergyPolicy #GlobalEnergy #Geopolitics #EnergySecurity #OilAndGas #LNG #CriticalMinerals #CanadaEnergy

Send us Fan Mail

The energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.

Reach out to us with thoughts, questions, or ideas at info@powerstruggle.ca

Linkedin
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

🎧 For audio versions of our podcast visit powerstruggle.ca and listen on the go in your favourite podcast app!
Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod