‘Canada roughly 33 or 34 per cent above Kyoto target’
Almost four years after the governing Conservatives introduced their first environmental plan to fight climate change, there has been little progress because the federal government has failed to introduce its regulatory framework, says Canada’s Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Scott Vaughan. “This office has said in the past that the federal government is […]
Taking action: conscientious stewards of a precious environment
Canada’s government is taking real action in protecting and conserving our ecosystems and sensitive species, and promoting stewardship of our valuable water resources. We are doing this through our many investments, leading-edge research, world-class expertise, policies and programs. Our goal is to preserve our natural treasures so that all Canadians can continue to enjoy a […]
Critics say Canada needs a national strategy on water management
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in both the 2007 and 2010 Throne Speeches, stated his government’s commitment to better managing Canada’s water resources, but critics say Ottawa has yet to match words with action. Nancy Goucher, program coordinator at the Forum for Leadership On Water (FLOW), said currently the federal government’s action plan is narrowly focused […]
Canada needs to shift paradigm, get with green economy
One unfortunate prevailing idea held by this government is that dealing with climate change needs to entail significant economic hardship. This view ignores the human and economic costs from unmitigated climate change. Many expert economists and studies also indicate that climate change action will be much more affordable than we now think, especially if we […]
On the environment, it’s simple: Canada needs strong federal political leadership
At a time when meaningful integration of the environment and the economy—the challenge of the 21st century—is occurring in so many jurisdictions, it is clear that the golden thread that weaves its way through the Reform-Conservative approach to the environment is utter and complete incoherence. On virtually every front, the Conservatives have weakened Canada’s approach […]
Conservatives steering us wide off the mark
Times of economic upheaval are usually when governments ramp up their creativity and introduce innovative solutions to their most pressing problems. For example, in late 2008 the Director of the UN Environment Programme and the UN secretary-general called on all heads of state to sign the Global Green New Deal, which was designed to encourage […]
Significant, even transformational, adjustments lie ahead on cutting GHGs
Climate change and Canada’s response to it have profound economic implications for our nation’s future. There are risks but there are also opportunities. We need to position ourselves to compete and prosper in an increasingly carbon-constrained global economy. Ensuring Canada is well-prepared to adapt and prosper as part of this new reality is the focus […]
Canada’s no clean-energy superpower
The mandate of the federal minister of the environment is found in the Department of the Environment Act. The minister is granted powers, duties, and functions for all federal matters related to, among other matters, the preservation and enhancement of the quality of the natural environment; renewable resources, including migratory birds and other non-domestic flora […]
Still ‘room for improvement’ in Parliament Hill’s own green strategy
There is a house in Washington, D.C. with a kitchen garden out back, and solar panels on the roof. Its residents turn off the lights when they leave the room, and talk about “showing the American people it’s not that hard” to be environmentally friendly. U.S. President Barack Obama is aware of the White House’s […]
Government urged to strengthen endangered species protections
Environmentalists and opposition critics say the federal government has made some improvements, but has also failed to enforce legislative protections for endangered species, accusing the Tories of putting the interest of resource companies above those of scarce animals. The Species at Risk Act (SARA), is currently undergoing a mandatory review in the House Environment and […]
