Government should play bigger role in fast-tracking alternative energy sources
The days of cheap and abundant oil are behind us. The new energy paradigm demands that we understand now more than ever that we must reduce our dependence on traditional fossil fuels. We must act for two important reasons-oil reserves are shrinking, with new finds increasingly more difficult and costly to get to, and, more […]
Elections Canada says Tory ‘cheque-swapping’ may be a violation of federal law
Elections Canada says the Conservative Party may have violated sections of both the Canada Elections Act and the Income Tax Act by engaging in a “cheque-swapping” scheme at its 2005 national party’s policy convention in Montreal, a system that one legal expert says is designed to maximize revenue. The Vancouver Sun reported on July 1 […]
Renewable energy a reality: all that’s needed is political will
In any discussion of our energy future in Canada and our national response to the reduction of greenhouse gases, the subject of renewable energy is raised, only to be shot down by a variety of nay sayers, usually associated with existing large energy interests. At a recent House Natural Resources Committee meeting the Energy Dialogue […]
Information Commissioner says MPs’ legal fees should be made public
Canada’s Information Commissioner says the House of Commons should publicly reveal how much it pays for MPs’ legal fees. “My view is that it’s as legitimate as a Member of Parliament’s travel expenses or office expenses,” John Reid told The Hill Times. “They release all their other expenditures and this is certainly a legitimate expenditure, […]
Top university researchers join forces to develop solar-optimized homes and commercial buildings for the future in Canada
The Solar Buildings Research Network (SBRN) was launched in 2006 by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) through its Research Network (now Strategic Network) Grant Program. For the first time, in a unique effort, 24 top Canadian researchers in solar energy and buildings from 10 Canadian universities have joined forces to develop the […]
No realistic option to reduce energy consumption by one-third over next few years: PM Harper
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, whose Conservative minority government will introduce the Clean Air Act this fall, says he wants to move forward on some issues the Kyoto Protocol “completely ignores,” such as pollution and smog and promises a more comprehensive package “than anything that was envisioned by Kyoto.” The following is an excerpt of an […]
HEARD ON THE HILL
Nestled in the heart of Centre Block, between the House Speaker’s Office and the Senate’s Upper Chamber, the historic Hot Room has housed generations of Parliamentary Press Gallery reporters over the years, and it shows. Behind the doors of 350-N lies a virtual shrine to the golden age of journalism, where makeshift shelving units teeter […]
Harper talks U.S. energy security with Bush
Prime Minister Stephen harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.), who met with U.S. President George W. Bush in Washington, D.C., last week for a friendly one-day bilateral meeting, discussed a range of issues, including providing energy security to the United States in the future. Declared Mr. Harper at the White House press conference last Thursday: “We discussed […]
Liberal Party’s membership drive numbers in, but race still unclear
With the membership drive now over, the Liberal leadership race has turned the first page of a thick book to elect a new leader but, more importantly, to a new mentality. Before again becoming “the winning party,” the Liberals need to first be a party. “At the present time,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper told The […]
Environmental Defence basks in successful PR campaign
Rick Smith, director of Environmental Defence, an environmental advocacy group in Toronto, said he “likes to think” that the organization’s campaign against harmful toxic agents had an impact on the government’s recent decision to ban two of them. Environment Minister Rona Ambrose and Health Minister Tony Clement published a notice in the Canada Gazette on […]
