Feds reclassified Trans Mountain as a ‘non-agent’ Crown corporation to avoid parliamentary scrutiny, says NDP critic
Trans Mountain Corporation and Finance Canada both say an April 20 change to the Crown corporation’s official status was made in order to allow it to obtain third-party financing, after Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced on Feb. 18 that the government would not provide any further public money to the project. But NDP environment critic […]
Hit Russia where it counts—at the pumps
OTTAWA—We are now well into the third month of Russia’s war in Ukraine and it appears that there is little hope of the conflict ending anytime soon. The Ukrainian military has proven itself to be better trained, equipped, and motivated than the surprisingly inept Russian armed forces. On land, at sea, and in the air, […]
Let’s make sure we get Canada’s critical minerals strategy right
Given the context of this year’s federal budget—surging energy prices, post-COVID economic stabilization, and a war in Europe—the Government of Canada was understandably more focused than perhaps in any of the Trudeau government’s previous budgets. It was not Christmas morning with a bauble for everyone. It was a disciplined and focused approach to the challenges […]
Funding for fossil fuels could derail Canada’s new plan to reduce emissions
Canadian climate news has been a bit of a rollercoaster. Just over a month ago, the federal government released the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, the most comprehensive Canadian climate plan to date, and the 2022 budget, scarcely a week apart. That same week, the urgent call of the world’s top scientists reached a fever pitch […]
Industry stakeholders, experts applaud feds’ critical minerals spending, as geopolitics loom large in supply chains
The federal government’s recent $3.8-billion budget proposal to develop Canada’s increasingly important critical minerals sector has been met with support from industry experts. But David Billedeau, senior director of natural resources and environmental sustainability at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, says it’s still “the start of a very long journey—other countries are more advanced in […]
Federal budget a failure when it comes to addressing the water crisis
The climate crisis is a water crisis—affecting everything from prosperity and public health to food availability, energy, security, salmon, fisheries, and ecosystems. The recent flooding, drought, and fires show all Canadians the reality of a very chaotic future where these kinds of events will not only be more common, but also increasingly severe, impacting community […]
Tax credit for carbon capture the wrong horse to back in a race against time
Scarcely a year into my first job with now defunct Britoil in 1986, I lost my job like many others as oil prices crashed. Young and optimistic, I went to Africa and applied my skills to building a dam. Eventually, I returned to the oil and gas sector, building a 30-year career, half of those […]
Nuclear power has had its day, say doctors
Achieving global net-zero emissions by 2050 while negotiating a path away from nuclear annihilation is a major challenge of our times. Although recently funded by our federal government, pursuing the path of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) is fraught with an array of known, currently unsolvable issues. In our opinion, SMRs will not resolve the […]
Feds’ zero emissions plan a good first step, but getting there will be an enormous challenge
TORONTO—The federal government has taken an important and necessary step in publishing its first Zero Emissions Reduction Plan, which sets out how it might achieve its 2030 pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to a level 40 per cent below that recorded in 2005. Achieving that target is an important ambition for our country. However, […]
Why aren’t our EV sales getting a spark?
Let’s face it: most of us drive our own vehicles. Many have switched to transit, car shares or bikes to lower their carbon footprints, but most people in Canada drive cars. Worse yet, the vehicles we’re choosing, SUVs and pickup trucks, are big and polluting. Canadians now hold the dubious distinction of having personal vehicles […]
