Experts support NRTEE advice, but climate change policy takes back seat on campaign trail
Despite expert approval and public support for a more aggressive climate change policy, the opening days of the 2011 election campaign have seen little or no discussion on strategies to tackle climate change. Earlier this year, the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE) released its most recent report, Parallel Paths: Canada-U.S. […]
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 […]
Ritz says feds want to open world markets to Canadian farmers
TOP PRIORITY: A firm believer of the marketplace, Gerry Ritz says he wants to make sure farmers have access to world markets. BIGGEST CHALLENGE: He says there were some ‘great agricultural announcements’ in last week’s federal budget, but rather than work on the economy, the opposition parties are ‘forcing’ an election. O pening up world […]
Blackburn sets feds’ sights on young farmers
In order for the agriculture industry to remain stable, the government must focus on young farmers, says Minister of State for Agriculture Jean-Pierre Blackburn. “We need absolutely to be sure that young farmers will be there for the future of this country and to feed our population,” Mr. Blackburn (Jonquière-Alma, Que.) told The Hill Times […]
Liberals promise to wipe slate clean, rebuild Canadian agricultural and develop food policy
Responsible for eight per cent of Canada’s GDP, agriculture remains one of Canada’s most important industries. Farmers and their production base are the main drivers of the industry and yet the financial support from the federal government continues to be eroded away. For farmers, the budget was an absolute failure, however, the main estimates contains […]
