It’s time to bridge the gap between Canada’s energy future and climate targets
On Nov. 19, the federal government introduced Bill C-12, the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act. Its purpose is to legislate five-year targets leading up to net-zero emissions in 2050 and to create an institutional structure to ensure that those targets are achieved. In legislating a net-zero target, Canada joins other countries that have done the […]
Don’t greenwash the blue economy
Last week, Canada announced a new pledge to sustainably manage 100 per cent of our ocean by 2025. The commitment, which was also signed onto by 13 other countries, provides an outline of how Canada might approach its blue economy strategy—a roadmap for how oceans can help drive the country’s economic growth. Given that Canada has the […]
Salvation from climate change in a vat
LONDON, U.K.—“We are putting a final end to the fossil era,” said Denmark’s climate minister, Dan Jorgensen, last week. What he meant was that the European Union’s biggest oil and gas producer is officially getting out of the petrochemical business after 80 years. There’s still more oil under the North Sea off Denmark’s west coast, […]
The power behind transition: a national energy system strategy
Canada is an energy bank. We need to treat it like one. We require an energy system strategy that would allow Canada to lead (not follow) market opportunities and leverage our capital to transition to a low carbon future. An energy system strategy will allow us to better monitor and achieve our transition. Energy is […]
Is Canada’s oil sector an appropriate target for industrial policy support?
Canadian discussions on the future of oil quickly descend to partisan polemics, with the environmental community arguing that climate change realities mean we need to leave it in the ground, and the oil patch arguing that it’s better that we produce it than our unethical global competitors. It’s hard to see a bridge between those […]
Toppling Trudeau: be careful what you wish for
HALIFAX—You can suspend the law of averages, but you can’t repeal it; if you play Russian Roulette long enough, there is always a Big Bang. And so it is with minority governments who bring on confidence votes, and dare the official opposition to trigger an election. Eventually, usually sooner than later, the government falls. Which […]
With economic statement, federal government keeps us waiting on real climate action
When it comes to climate policy, the fall economic statement delivered more of what we’ve come to expect from this government: a lot of talk about leadership, some new money for signature policies, but little recognition of the bigger picture challenges facing the country. It amounts to a small step forward when a leap is […]
Investments in education and training infrastructure critical to Canada’s long-term recovery
As Canada begins to build back better, investments that achieve multiple benefits stand to expedite recovery and amplify impact. Just as the United States once did with its New Deal to respond to the Great Depression, a key ingredient to Canada’s long-term recovery will undoubtedly be infrastructure investment and development. In a recent speech to […]
Canada can’t afford not to be in space
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Necessity is the mother of invention. We’ve all seen those aphorisms in action lately, from front-line workers of all kinds rolling up their sleeves and getting the job done, to engineers and scientists (and policy-makers) applying their knowledge and creativity to solve the problems of the […]
We need more details on feds’ ‘build-back-better’ plan
TORONTO—One part of the Trudeau government’s fall economic statement was designed to reassure Canadians that support programs for families and small businesses will continue to be there as long as the pandemic lasts. Canadians will not be forced out of their homes and onto the streets and many small businesses have some hope of surviving […]
