Canada sticks to its guns on climate policy at Doha
The United Nations 18th annual climate change conference ended on Friday with little evidence that Canada’s position on climate change has changed. Environment Minister Peter Kent (Thornhill, Ont.) reiterated Canada’s position on the need for new international climate change agreement in a country statement delivered to delegates at the COP 18 meeting in Doha, Qatar […]
Canada halfway to achieving Copenhagen target
The following is Environment Minister Peter Kent’s speech on Dec. 5 at the UN climate change conference in Doha, Qatar, the 18th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. DOHA, QATAR—I am proud to be here representing Canada in these important negotiations towards a new, more effective, international climate […]
It’s the environment and the economy, stupid
One of the most persistent and confounding fallacies of political discourse is the idea that we must choose between environmental protection and a healthy economy. According to years of polling, Canadians reject the idea. Poll after poll shows that Canadians think that both can be achieved. Lest anyone assume this is based on an unreasonable […]
Harper government must invest in new environmental technologies, put Canadians to work in jobs of the future
Canada is often lauded as an energy superpower, yet this Conservative government’s lack of an energy vision and national leadership, its fragmented government policies and programs, and slow development of clean technologies are preventing Canada from truly realizing its potential. In order for Canada to lead the world and develop an economy that is […]
Time for partisan politics long gone, time now for leadership and action on green economy
Clean, sustainable energy isn’t just good for the environment—it makes good economical sense. The green energy sector not only holds significant potential for Canada to reduce our carbon emissions and meet our domestic energy needs, but to also establish ourselves as key contenders in the manufacture of renewable energy technology. However, without decisive action from […]
Energy efficiency is key to our energy future
Many Canadians are aware of our abundant natural resources and, in particular, our immense oil and gas reserves. In fact, we possess the world’s third largest oil reserves and are the world’s third largest producer of natural gas. Fewer Canadians realize that Canada is also a global leader in renewable energy and has made […]
Municipalities seek green infrastructure commitment from feds in long-term funding plan
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is looking to the federal government for a renewed commitment to develop green infrastructure in its next long-term public infrastructure plan. “We need to have the federal government partner with us at a national level on both the environmental and economic goals of our country. Long-term predictable infrastructure planning […]
Climate ‘policy delay’ could cost Canada billions in trade opportunities: NRTEE
Canada risks losing billions of dollars in exports if its trading partners begin to adopt low-carbon fuel standards, and billions more in infrastructure upgrade costs if the federal government continues to delay comprehensive policies aimed at laying the groundwork for the emerging green economy, according to the National Round Table on the Environment and […]
We need to bring people together to turn research into innovation, innovation into enterprise
OTTAWA—In September, Site Selection, a prestigious American trade publication aimed at business executives who determine the location for new production facilities, ranked Hamilton as the top Canadian city for companies interested in launching new industrial development projects or expanding existing ones. When commenting on the ranking, Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina pointed out how his […]
Don’t trade off science policy for innovation policy
OTTAWA—Innovation is a word that is used a lot—too often perhaps—but it is rarely succinctly defined. In a recent document issued by the Institute for Science, Society and Policy, Canada’s Future as an Innovative Society: A Decalogue of Policy Criteria, we define this concept as follows (with thanks to Peter Nicholson): “Innovation occurs whenever […]
