‘Absolute carnage right now’: MPs call for greater energy sector support, ‘re-think’ of industry’s security, budgetary role
As Canada’s oil and gas sector continues to be battered by plummeting prices, MPs in energy-rich provinces are calling for greater measures from the federal government to keep the industry afloat amidst and after the COVID-19 pandemic, with two Alberta Conservative MPs calling for a “re-think” of the role of the sector from both a […]
‘Pandemic bump’ pushes March lobbying up 60 per cent over last year
The flood of influencers contacting officials in March increased communication by almost 60 per cent compared to the year before, part of what lobbyists describe as a “pandemic bump” in activity they expect to be the new normal as industry, associations, and governments respond to the impacts of COVID-19. Lobbyists filed 2,329 communication reports in […]
The post-COVID Canada faces many challenges
OTTAWA—Last week, I wrote about international policy in the post-COVID time. Now I want to examine how Canada should respond to the major domestic challenges it will face. First of all, the debt: there will be mountains of it. A debt and deficit like nothing most Canadians have experienced in their lifetimes. At the latest […]
Help Canada’s workers now—but don’t lock us into a high-carbon future
The COVID-19 pandemic is a human tragedy. Containing the virus and supporting people in crisis are of critical importance. For governments in Canada, and elsewhere, that includes financial assistance to keep individuals and businesses afloat. The economic impact on Canada’s oil and gas sector has been particularly acute, driven both by a drop in demand […]
‘It’s incredibly dire here’: Alberta MPs navigating COVID-19 and oil crises
“I’m not really one to panic,” said Alberta MP Stephanie Kusie, speaking over the phone from her home, after closing her constituency office in Calgary Midnapore as the COVID-19 virus spreads across Canada. “I believe in preparation, but I don’t believe in panicking.” Still, the former Canadian diplomat-turned Conservative MP says she is taking a “day […]
Canada is at a crossroads with existential consequences
It is not hyperbole to suggest that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government find themselves today at a truly historic junction—and Canada’s economic and political future are very much dependent on which policy direction he chooses to pursue. There is no middle ground. He either takes the direction suggested by Greta Thunberg, the 17-year-old […]
Policymakers should worry less about energy self-sufficiency and more about decarbonization
Suppose that Canada were energy self-sufficient. Would life improve for the average Canadian? In times of instability, self-sufficiency seems like a balm to soothe jangled nerves and wary politicians. But more careful investigation demonstrates that energy self-sufficiency is a red herring. Policymakers should be much more worried about climate change and how to decarbonize the […]
The race to net-zero: grounded in reality or wishful thinking?
Just a few months ago, Spanish oil company Repsol made a splash in global headlines by announcing that it would get to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This announcement triggered a cascade of similar pledges from other oil and gas giants in Canada and around the world, including CNRL, MEG Energy, Teck Resources, Cenovus, and […]
Improving the policy environment in Canada to capitalize on the global energy transformation
Energy use is the main source of rising greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere, which is linked to climate change’s widespread disruptive effects. Transforming the energy system—i.e., all the ways we produce, process, transport, and use energy—lies at the centre of a global transition to a sustainable future. As a trade-dependent and energy exporting […]
Time to move away from business-as-usual approach to climate, resource development policies
In recent weeks, Canadians have heard a lot about the debate around fossil fuel developments and the need for climate action. The oil and gas sector has suffered under low commodity prices for the past six years, and thousands of workers in the sector have lost their jobs. On the other hand, the general public […]
