McKenna says rebates central to getting Canadians to support carbon pricing
Environment Minister Catherine McKenna is pitching to Canadians carbon pricing rebates that she says will do more than just offset what most households will pay as a result of a carbon tax. In an interview with The Hill Times on Feb. 27, Ms. McKenna (Ottawa Centre, Ont.) said the rebate program—called the Climate Action Incentive—will […]
From efficiency to effectiveness: can Canada meet its emission reduction goals through carbon pricing?
OTTAWA—Often lost in the carbon pricing debate is the distinction between efficiency and effectiveness. Most economists agree that putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions is the most efficient way to reduce the pollution driving climate change. Implementing a carbon tax or a cap-and-trade system incentivizes households and businesses to make less-polluting choices at the […]
A primer on output-based carbon pricing: there’s probably more consensus than you think
The federal government’s “backstop” carbon-pricing policy will apply in provinces and territories that haven’t implemented a sufficiently broad and stringent policy of their own. The backstop has two parts. The first is the levy on the carbon embedded in fossil fuels such as gasoline and diesel; this is pretty straightforward. The second is a separate […]
We are having the wrong conversation, we are in a climate emergency
We are in a climate emergency and we are doing nothing substantive or effective to confront it. Within Parliament and media circles, we ignore the urgency of the climate crisis. Some Members of Parliament understand the grave nature of the threat. Some of us grasp that when the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports […]
How do you know when a carbon price works?
For months now, Canadians have been treated to two starkly different carbon tax stories. In one version, it’s a fair, highly effective and essential policy to combat climate change—endorsed by economists and environmentalists alike. In the other, it’s little more than a tax grab that “does nothing” for emissions or the environment. So, which is […]
Now more than ever, government needs to reassure farmers their voices are being heard on climate change
On Thursday, Feb. 28, the Senate adopted “Feast or Famine: Impacts of Climate Change and carbon Pricing on Agriculture, Agri-food and Forestry,” a report of the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry. During my speech in the Senate Chamber prior to the adoption of the report, I referenced an article that ran on the […]
Carbon pricing ‘most cost-effective’ way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but not a ‘panacea’ to meet Paris targets, experts say
In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Canada’s Liberal government has a direct price on carbon dioxide emissions that will start at $20 per tonne, and increase by $10 each year until 2022 when it will reach $50 per tonne. The Canadian government has estimated that the pricing system “could” cut carbon emission by 80- […]
Liberal plan to double women entrepreneurs ‘very ambitious,’ money not flowing to grassroots, say observers, critics
This spring, the Liberals will announce the winners of the $20-million Women’s Entrepreneurship Fund, but University of Ottawa professor Barbara Orser says it’s not a lot of money to support women-owned or women-led businesses and help them grow. And while the minister in charge of the program says it’s the “right thing to do,” opposition […]
The intricacies of indecisiveness show why Canada must prioritize the Air Force
The Canadian government’s decision to acquire used F-18 Hornet fighter jets from the Australian Air Force has cast doubt regarding the long-term operational ability of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) to meet its international military obligations to NATO and NORAD to protect North American airspace. Early reports indicated that the acquisition cost for 25 […]
‘People might die’: Canada’s looming exit leaves concerns over safety of UN Mali peacekeeping mission
Despite pleas from the United Nations to extend its peacekeeping deployment in Mali until Romanian peacekeepers take over in October, Canada has not swayed from its decision to leave after its one-year commitment concludes at the end of July. This could threaten the well-being of the UN mission by losing a vital helicopter medical evacuation […]
