Food insecurity: Not just a poor country’s problem
We are accustomed to thinking of food security as a poor country’s problem, something for national governments and the United Nations to solve. But a week-long trip to Whitehorse with the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation was a stark reminder of the food-security challenges faced here in Canada. Listening at the first-ever Yukon Food Security Summit, organized by […]
Brexit vote not that helpful to Quebec sovereigntists
MONTREAL—There was a time, not long ago, when the Quebec sovereignty movement swore by the model of the European Union. In the lead-up to the 1995 referendum, it provided the template for the project of a post-secession partnership with the rest of Canada. Back then, most leading sovereigntists sincerely believed in an EU-style Canada-Quebec union […]
Jason Kenney as Alberta Conservative saviour? Good luck
OTTAWA—So Jason Kenney, the highest-profile social conservative in the Conservative caucus, is letting it be known that he’s got a dream: he’s willing to abandon plans to lead the federal party that appears keen to soften its edges on social issues to lead a merged provincial conservative party in the next Alberta election. It’s a curious […]
To live up to its obligations, Canada must reject Energy East
The Vancouver Declaration on Clean Growth and Climate Change begins by stating that “Canada stands at the threshold of building our clean-growth economy. This transition will create a strong and diverse economy, create new jobs, and improve our quality of life.” We agree with this. However, to make this happen, the government needs the courage […]
The federal-provincial approach to climate change: how is this going to work?
The Liberal government will have its work cut out for itself come September, when final reports resulting from the federal-provincial approach to creating a national strategy to combat climate change and meet Canada’s 2030 carbon reduction goal are released. The meeting of first ministers in Vancouver this past March resulted in the creation of four […]
Trudeau’s aura eclipsing strong Quebec cabinet team, poll shows
MONTREAL—At this time last year, few were predicting a Liberal victory in the upcoming federal election. Fewer still were willing to bet on a majority win for Justin Trudeau. Even as he was ascending in voting intentions last fall, many assumed that if he became prime minister, Trudeau would need the crutch of a strong ministerial team. […]
Nunavut needs responsible economic development
As Canada’s youngest territory, Nunavut faces a unique set of economic and social development challenges. Nunavut is one of the largest political subdivisions in the world, roughly the size of Mexico, and yet it is also the least populous, with just over 30,000 residents. With a land rich in natural resources, and a resourceful, young […]
Putting the pieces in place for development
The Northwest Territories’ potential to contribute to the national economy is huge. While vast reserves of gas and oil have been identified, only small pockets have been exploited. Territorial mines have, for more than 80 years, produced gold, diamonds, tungsten, lead, and other minerals, and are the largest contributor to the territorial GDP. Much of […]
The right blend of realism and vision
Yukoners have always taken great pride in self-reliance. That was true centuries ago when Yukon First Nations subsisted in a pre-contact world. It was true of the first men and women who dragged themselves and everything they owned over the Chilkoot Trail in search of gold. And it remains true today. As Yukoners, we want […]
Gray’s Bay port and road project would give the North a boost
At the Civic Auditorium in Winnipeg on Feb. 12, 1958, my hero, then-prime minister John Diefenbaker spoke of his vision for Canada’s Arctic. “We intend to carry out the legislative program of Arctic research, to develop Arctic routes, to develop those vast hidden resources the last few years have revealed…Plans to increase self-government in the […]
