Canada can ill afford to be blasé about a weak, fractious government at centre
OTTAWA—In all the bickering around the idea of a post-election coalition, nobody is asking the only question that really matters. Political parties always ask "what's in it for me?" University professors ask whether it is politically prudent or constitutionally proper. Pollsters ask who would gain electoral advantage from it. The right question to ask, though, […]
The lost art of the apology
It may seem that apologies in politics today are as common as snowflakes in winter. But because the true significance of an apology has been lost, today’s acts of alleged contrition often end up exacerbating the problem rather than solving it. And the most important apologies never get made at all. When you consider how […]
New world order arrives in Middle East and West is playing catch-up
In the Middle East disappearing dictators signal the collapse of another piece of the Cold War’s architecture, more than two decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall sealed the fate of Communism and the Soviet Union. This is no mere historical oddity, however, for the unpredictable result may well profoundly reshape our world. Anyone […]
Back to the future: A guide to budget-making
OTTAWA—My grandpa always said to me that if you want to be best in the world at something, do something no one else is doing. Canada applied that advice to its economy in the 1990s, with impressive results. Other countries waded ever deeper into expanded social programs, higher taxes, bigger spending and more unionized public […]
Media speculation on Canada-U.S. agreement on a continental perimeter border premature
OTTAWA—The premature speculation in the media about a Canada-U.S. agreement on a continental perimeter border has already triggered predictable reactions. One columnist in The Toronto Star calls it, “another lose-lose deal. We give up much; we gain nothing.” Maude Barlow opines that such a deal would constitute an “outrageous attack on the rights of Canadians.” […]
Industry observers say Paradis taking back-seat role on energy files
While energy industry observers say former environment minister Jim Prentice did what he could to move forward with a difficult portfolio, they are generally more critical of Natural Resources Minister Christian Paradis (Mégantic-L’Érable, Que.) for taking more of a back-seat role on his file. Mr. Paradis started on the job in January, grabbing the baton […]
Contributing to Canada’s energy literacy: educating a potential energy superpower
Canada is not yet an energy superpower. Becoming one will require more than just rapidly expanding the oil sands. An energy superpower will require a network of sophisticated, reliable and sustainable energy production systems, efficient end-users and robust policy frameworks, none of which we currently have. Many voices are now calling for a national energy […]
Feds should be planning for a greener energy future, now
For the vast majority of countries, whether they are net importers or exporters of energy, the policy decisions they are making right now will form the basis of their ability to thrive or even survive in the coming decades. Those governments that are unable or unwilling to strategically manage their energy resources will be cursed […]
Energy and clean-tech economy: global clean-tech opportunity is immense
The world is moving inexorably toward a clean energy future, with the consequent innovation, jobs, and growth benefits to those countries that are ahead of this curve. As demands for energy increases with global economic growth and in particular the rise of big economies like China, India, and Brazil, and as concerns about the effects […]
Hydro power to continue to be important part of Canada’s clean energy mix
The following is a speech Christian Paradis delivered on Oct. 26 in Ottawa at the 2010 Annual Forum of the Canadian Hydro power Association. O TTAWA—Canada is the world’s second largest producer of hydro power in the world. [The] industry employs tens of thousands of people, such as engineers, geologists, construction workers, electricians, and mechanics, […]
