de Adder’s Take: 12-07-2020
Climate and shifting markets define energy challenges for Canada
The state of energy policy in Canada, as it relates to fossil fuels, is defined by two major issues: the stalling out, with the possible exception of Quebec, of meaningful progress on climate change; and distress in the Alberta oil and gas sector, a product of weak demand and low commodity prices—trends that pre-dated the COVID-19 pandemic. The […]
Reckless populists
LONDON, U.K.—“There is nothing wrong to participate in a sex party of any kind,” said a source in the European Parliament. “However, such kinds of meetings with many people are illegal under the coronavirus laws.” To be specific, 25 naked men attending a loud party above a gay bar in central Brussels is clearly against […]
Sloan should be tossed from Conservative caucus
OTTAWA—Derek Sloan should be tossed from the Conservative caucus. The anti-gay and anti-choice views that formed the basis of his campaign for the Conservative leadership were bad enough. Last week, he went from the ridiculous to the delirious, sponsoring a parliamentary petition that discourages Canadians from vaccinating themselves against the worst public health scourge in […]
On the radar: polytechnics delivering 21st century talent for Canada’s aerospace sector
Aerospace is an integral and strategic sector for Canada. Not only does it add high-value jobs, innovation intensity—with beneficial spill-over effects—and billions in GDP to our economy, it’s also key to protecting our borders, surveilling the North, putting Canadians in space, and potentially, delivering COVID-19 testing kits via unmanned aerial vehicles to remote regions of the country. Canada needs a […]
Keep fitness facilities open safely during COVID-19, urge doctors
We, the undersigned medical doctors, write to convey the importance of keeping fitness facilities open, safely and sustainably, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Many months into this pandemic, we now know that the presence of lifestyle-associated chronic diseases strongly predicts morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 infections. We recognize that contact tracing currently has limitations in Ontario but recent […]
Feds should shed more light on Centre Block’s massive renovation project
It’s been nearly two years since Centre Block was closed for what’s now being dubbed “the renovation of the century,” and on Dec. 2 the federal government offered the media a look inside to see what’s going on. Breathtaking is one word for it. Our photographer Andrew Meade shot pictures of the work and The […]
If we’re going to spend a billion dollars a year managing our nuclear waste, let’s do it right
OTTAWA—A contract quietly signed during the 2015 federal election campaign between Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) and a multinational consortium is costing Canadians billions of dollars and increasing risks to health from deadly radioactive pollutants. The multi-billion-dollar contract was an attempt by the former federal Conservative government to reduce Canada’s $7.9-billion nuclear waste liability quickly and cheaply by […]
Canada Energy Regulator report shows a need for new climate scenario planning
The recently released Energy Future 2020 report (EF2020) from the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) is the latest long-term energy outlook that builds on the history of projections published by the precursor to the CER, the National Energy Board, since 1967. As the CER explains the goal of the modelling exercise is to “explore how possible […]
New bill seeks to ensure that victims’ rights are being respected
On Dec. 1, I presented Bill S-219—An Act to Amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (disclosure of information to victims), alongside Conservative Oshawa, Ont., MP Colin Carrie and Lakeland, Alta., MP Shannon Stubbs, public safety and emergency preparedness critic for the official opposition. It was an honour to be joined by two families who […]
