Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador: neighbours that need to talk
OTTAWA—This month’s majority decision of the Supreme Court to reject Newfoundland and Labrador’s request to reopen the 1969 Churchill Falls power contract was not a surprise to anyone who has followed the case. With one exception (Newfoundland Justice Malcolm Rowe), the judges ruled there was no basis on which to reconsider the contract, which locked […]
This Remembrance Day, let’s pay tribute to the Canadian Forestry Corps
On Nov. 11, Canadians will pay tribute to the men and women who have served our country during times of conflict, and honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice in order for all of us to enjoy the freedoms we have today. What many people may not be aware of is the story of the […]
How to unlock the potential of Canada’s North
While the mining industry is truly pan-Canadian, with operations from coast to coast to coast, it is particularly significant to northern Canada. In the Arctic specifically, mining is the largest private-sector employer, responsible for the employment of approximately 8,500 people, or one in every six jobs. These numbers increase substantially when the Arctic regions of […]
Clean electricity crucial for Northwest Territories
In last year’s Hill Times special policy edition on the North, I stated I was eagerly awaiting news on Canada’s National Trade Corridor’s funding to begin to address our infrastructure gap, link our communities, and help bring down the cost of living and the cost of developing our resources and bringing them to market. I […]
Lobbyists court Senators to kill impact assessment bill
As the Liberals’ controversial environmental assessment bill makes it way through the Senate, stakeholders and activists are hoping to seize what they see as an opportunity to push the Upper Chamber to scrap or significantly change the legislation. Senators began discussing Bill C-69, the wide-ranging environment legislation that would put in place a new Impact Assessment […]
Arctic Ocean ridge claim about ‘national pride’ as much as potential resources: expert
As Canada prepares its submission on the claim over submarine shelves in the Arctic Ocean, there are questions if there are resources on and below the seabed worth extracting, experts say. Canada’s claim will deal with two ridges, jutting out from Ellesmere Island at Canada’s northernmost point, crossing the Arctic Ocean—the Lomonosov and Alpha-Mendeleev ridges. […]
N.W.T., Canada can work together for sustainable northern development
A year ago this week, I was in Ottawa to call for a national discussion on the future of the Northwest Territories. My red alert was motivated by the continued stagnation of the Northwest Territories economy, compounded by concerns that federal decisions and policies could create roadblocks to meaningful economic development and cut our people […]
Raise the GST as part of pragmatic plan for climate action
The rejection of the Trans Mountain pipeline approval by the courts and the angry response by Alberta to withdraw from Canada’s climate plan has set in motion a high-octane drama with no happy ending in sight. Provinces see an opportunity to flex their muscles, engage in a tit-for-tat bargaining game with the federal government—a game […]
Why oilpatch suits are trying to boot Bill C-69
“Suits and Boots” is a last-minute industry campaign to derail Bill C-69, environmental legislation passed by the House of Commons in June. Bill C-69 would reform the process for assessing the impacts of proposed resource projects, and modernize the discredited National Energy Board. Conservative Senators, alongside Independent Senators Group Sen. Doug Black, who represents Alberta, […]
Khashoggi case a test of the world’s will to defend human rights
Jamal Khashoggi walked into Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul for some paperwork and never came out alive. The Turkish case is quite convincing. So why are we waiting? The Saudi crown prince knows exactly what happened; that information would have come with a simple phone call. Last week, news outlets were reporting on a suggested […]
