G7 can’t exclude U.S., despite disagreements, say envoys
Diplomats representing G7 countries in Canada say the group can’t exclude the United States even if most members disagree with it on a growing number of issues, including most recently its decision to pull out of a nuclear deal with Iran. Senior diplomats posted to Canada from five G7 member states and the European Union, […]
What kind of Arctic do we need for the world to remain liveable?
The evolution of human beings as a species has depended on a frozen Arctic. But the North Pole as a frozen ice cap on the top of the world is now in doubt. The rapidly melting Arctic—measured in loss of sea ice, melting permafrost, and temperature surges in mid-winter—is a threat to climate stability globally. […]
Northerners deserve a government that has their back
Last time I had the opportunity to write for the Hill Times, I spoke of the fortitude and resilience of Canadian northerners. The pristine land and waters north of the 60th parallel are full of stunning beauty, but also unique challenges. The Conservative Party, led by Andrew Scheer, believes that the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the […]
Canada won’t meet its UN Sustainable Development Goals, 2020 biodiversity targets unless it takes urgent action
Canada will fail to meet both its UN Sustainable Development Goals and 2020 biodiversity targets unless it takes urgent action. That is the conclusion of Julie Gelfand, Canada’s federal commissioner of the environment and sustainable development, in two reports recently tabled in the House of Commons: “Canada’s Preparedness to Implement the United Nations’ Sustainable Development […]
Fighting for carbon price, burying pipeline headlines key for Trudeau nabbing green voters in 2019, says pollster
Battling an anti-carbon tax premier in Ontario or Alberta could shore up the Trudeau Liberals’ reputation as an environmental champion, says pollster Greg Lyle, after a series of blows to the Grits’ green credentials in recent weeks. Ontario PC leader Doug Ford and Alberta United Conservative Party leader Jason Kenney each have strong support in […]
Liberal MPs suggest more than 100 amendments to government’s environmental impact assessment bill
Liberal MPs have proposed more than 100 changes to the government’s wide-ranging Impact Assessment Bill, including to the role of energy regulators in the new environmental assessment process. The amendments put forward by Liberal members of the House Environment Committee respond to problems with the bill, C-69, raised by those who testified to the committee, […]
The sharing economy: a low-hanging fruit for sustainability
With the strong focus in Canada and globally on improving environmental sustainability, there is far too much emphasis on trying to make business-as-usual more efficient instead of also being smart. Utilization of infrastructure—and the built environment in general—remains very low. For example, ask yourself how much building space (work, home, and elsewhere) is devoted entirely […]
Canada poised to truly harness value of big data
VICTORIA, B.C.—A rough calculation suggests that 50,000 copies of the complete works of Shakespeare would fit on a smart phone. Astounding as this might have been 20 years ago, it is now a mundane fact about consumer electronics, as the ability to miniaturize and store data has kept pace with the increased processing power found […]
Is there really an economic case for Kinder Morgan?
CHELSEA, QUE.—The environmental dangers involved in the controversial twinning of the Kinder Morgan pipeline through British Columbia are easy to see, if not to quantify. The first is increased odds of a calamitous spill in the face of a sevenfold increase in oil tanker traffic in Vancouver Harbour. The second is that, by extending the […]
It’s time Canada act on the Sustainable Development Goals
Last week, the federal environment and sustainable development commissioner, who operates within the auditor general’s office, issued an audit report on Canada’s preparedness to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—a set of 17 global goals for economic, social, and environmental sustainability that were adopted in 2015 and agreed to by all 193 members of the United Nations, including Canada. […]
