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 […]
Feds need a national clean energy strategy, say critics
Renewable energy industry players say Ontario’s Green Energy Act is stimulating development in a big way, while the federal government is doing virtually nothing to support clean energy. Critics say Ottawa needs to step up with a national clean energy strategy in order to maintain Canada’s competitiveness in the global economy, and cut greenhouse gas […]
Ontario and B.C going ‘gangbusters’ on green jobs, feds not so much
The United States, Ontario, and British Columbia are going “gangbusters” creating new green jobs, but critics say Canada’s federal government needs to step up with funding, regulations, and infrastructure improvements in order to compete with other jurisdictions. “The Green Energy Act in Ontario is going gangbusters. There’s been something like $14-billion of investment announced,” said […]
Time for a strong minister of public health
TORONTO—Liberals venerate our public healthcare system, not only because they played a central role in creating it, but also because it has delivered better health for Canadians, so much so that many Canadians see it as a defining value for their country. But if former Bank of Canada governor David Dodge was right about sharply […]
Feds and Liberals should be offering more options to face challenges of an aging Canada
TORONTO—With his latest salvo on the nation’s finances, Kevin Page triggered predictable headlines warning that we faced huge costs as baby boomers headed for retirement. Canada, our Parliamentary budget officer warned, would be burdened by an unsustainable buildup in the public debt unless we met the challenge of an aging society soon. Yet while Page […]
Canada could be a leader in digital economy, says Goodyear
Canada can and should be a leader in the digital economy, says Gary Goodyear, minister of state for Science and Technology, but it will only happen with governments, academia and business working together. The government has already publicly announced the need for a nationwide strategy for the digital economy, said Mr. Goodyear (Cambridge, Ont.), also […]
