It’s been five years of Conservative climate change inaction
After five years of Prime Minister Stephen Harper being in power, I suspect I have run out of different ways to say that he doesn’t care about climate change. Point in case was the recent federal budget. The Conservatives showed their true colours and they certainly weren’t green. The budget would spend billions on jets, […]
Critics concerned about food safety in Canada-U.S. border agreement
A border security agreement reached between Canada and the United States in February would weaken the Canadian government’s ability to protect its citizens from food diseases, say the NDP and Liberals. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama announced in February they were beginning negotiations to look at ways of harmonizing the two […]
Environmentalists hoping for new standards on national air quality regulations
Environmentalists say they hope that, after four years of waiting, federal and provincial governments will adopt new standards for national air quality regulations in the next year. Provincial environment ministers agreed in October 2010 to have the “major elements” of new emissions standards in place before the end of 2011. This would force industry members […]
Environment minister touts Conservative environmental leadership in face of criticism
Environment Minister Peter Kent says the federal government is providing environmental leadership through regulation stewardship, but the Conservatives’ public policies continue to face criticism on a number of fronts. In an interview last week with The Hill Times, Mr. Kent maintained that the Conservatives have a proven track record based on environmental regulation and stewardship. […]
‘Still much to do’ on environment, climate change, energy, says Minister Kent
The following is a transcript of a speech Environment Minister Peter Kent made at the House of Common’s Environment Committee on March 8, 2011. He spoke about his department’s 2010 supplementary estimates and 2011 main estimates. T his government is keenly interested in striking the right balance between economic renewal and environmental protection. We have […]
Feds ‘not ready to respond to major oil spill’ says Environment Commissioner Vaughan
The following is a transcript from the March 10, 2011, Senate Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources, in which Scott Vaughan, Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, appeared to discuss his December 2010 report. F or years, the government has made repeated commitments to take the lead in protecting the environment and moving towards […]
Private-sector innovation: investing in universities and colleges makes good business sense
When the University of British Columbia licensed a novel drug technology to a leading global provider of healthcare products at the end of last year, it highlighted the Centre for Drug Research and Development’s role in closing the gap between discovery research and commercial opportunity in Canada. The technology, which allows potentially toxic drugs to […]
Feds’ approach to internet regulation disastrous for consumers
When you look at the Conservative government’s approach to internet regulation what you get is a confusing maze of announcements, reversals and half-measures all resulting in disastrous outcomes for consumers. Canadians pay more than most other OECD countries for internet service while receiving a comparatively lower level of service, particularly with respect to download speed. […]
Clement wants to help transform Canada into a global leading innovator, but has some challenges
GOAL: To ensure Canada is a leading innovator in the world. CHALLENGE: To combine government, public policy, private sector investment, and excellence in academia to make it happen. Industry Minister Tony Clement says he wants to make Canada the world’s leader in innovation, but business research and development is “troublesome.” It’s something he says he’s […]
Canada has gone from ‘leader’ to ‘backwater’ in global digital economy competitiveness, say critics
Industry Minister Tony Clement has said that by 2020, Canada will boast a “globally competitive digital economy.” While one policy analyst says it’s possible, opposition critics are wondering why Canada isn’t becoming more competitive sooner. The year “2020 is way too late. We’ve gone from being a leader to basically being a backwater, and for […]
