Texas, Rossby waves, and wave-7
LONDON, U.K.—Texas puts out more carbon dioxide than any other U.S. state, so there was some innocent amusement to be had from the indignation of Texans unable to boil their drinking water during the Big Freeze because the power was still out. Things like that are not supposed to happen in a modern, developed country […]
New transit funding welcome, but experts wary of execution
On the heels of the federal government announcing billions of dollars for a new transportation transfer starting in 2026, and more money for “shovel-ready projects” to be doled out immediately, transportation experts and the NDP’s transport critic say the money is welcome, but are questioning the timelines and are wary of the funds going to […]
New permanent transit fund will be immensely popular, writes Gideon Forman
Re: “Politics This Morning: Feds pledge $14.9-billion in new funds to build public transit projects,” (The Hill Times online newsletter, Feb. 11). Not mentioned here is the fact that the new permanent transit fund will be immensely popular. Ekos polling in November 2020 found 83 per cent of Canadians agree government has a responsibility to ensure […]
Trudeau Liberals need to look to hydrogen as part of the zero-emissions solutions for transit
On Feb. 10, the federal government announced the largest investment in public transit in Canadian history—including, most importantly, the permanent, stable funding required to build these large-scale infrastructure projects. Industry worked closely, under the leadership of Infrastructure and Communities Minister Catherine McKenna, to realize this opportunity. It is a game-changer, and through implementation, will be […]
B.C. Ferries’ plan to decarbonize fleet should be a model for the rest of Canada
B.C. Ferries recently announced a proposal to electrify one-third of its fleet over a seven-year period. The ambitious plan, which calls for the construction of seven new ferries and the conversion of six others, is a direct response to Premier John Horgan’s campaign promise to “launch a long-term BC shipbuilding strategy to create good jobs […]
How the Conservatives can win the next election
It’s not easy being the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. Just ask Erin O’Toole. In August 2020, when he became party leader, his prospects for winning the next election seemed bright. All he had to do was hold the support of those who had voted Conservative in 2019 and add a few more […]
‘High-stakes global pursuit’: Canada has multiple lanes to get to net zero by 2050, says report
Canada isn’t alone in staring down the daunting task of drastically slashing emissions to hit carbon neutrality by 2050, but it has numerous competitive advantages that help put the target within reach. That’s one of the big takeaways from an exhaustive study released Monday by the Canadian Institute for Climate Choices, a federally funded think-tank, […]
Will Biden’s focus on environmental justice spur change in Canada?
In 1967, Northern Pulp started discharging wastewater in Boat Harbour, N.S. After a ruptured pipe spilled untreated effluent into a wetland in 2014, the Pictou Landing First Nation set up a road blockade, but it would be another six years before the province closed the mill in 2020. It’s one example of “environmental racism” documented […]
With COP26 looming, world can’t afford to stall progress on climate action
Three years ago, I was on the banks of the St. Lawrence, watching Cirque du Soleil perform for G7 leaders. It was a summit to remember for all sorts of reasons. Fast forward to 2021, and it’s our turn. The U.K. will be hosting the summit in June on the beautiful Cornish coast at Carbis […]
2021 holds promise, despite challenging start
This year—marking the 45th anniversary of the European Union diplomatic mission in Canada—will be a defining time in transatlantic relations. Canada and the European Union weathered the first year of the pandemic together. We joined forces to keep vital supply chains open, support the World Health Organization (WHO) and lead international efforts to develop COVID-19 […]
