Oct 29

Alberta’s carbon-pricing policy is imperfect – but in one significant way, it’s actually better than Ottawa’s - Globe and Mail Op-Ed

On Tuesday, Alberta’s United Conservative Party government announced the details of its carbon pricing plan for large emitters, the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction Regulation (TIER). At its core, TIER is a carbon tax, in the sense that it puts a price on emissions. While the large-emitter piece of carbon pricing receives far less attention than the notorious “carbon tax,” TIER will cover more than double the emissions.

It was highly anticipated, given the party’s rhetoric around climate change: The UCP’s seeming raison d’être was fighting the carbon tax espoused by the provincial NDP and the federal Liberals, and it wasn’t so long ago that Premier Jason Kenney mused openly about reviving coal power and vowed to…

Oct 29

Shattered global order means a heavy burden for Canada’s next trade minister - Globe and Mail Op-Ed

Whomever the Prime Minister designates as the minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade will face significant challenges. While that’s nothing out of the ordinary and while some of these challenges may not be too different from ones faced before the election, the person who assumes the portfolio will have to handle Canada’s trade relations with the United States with consummate skill. That’s the new cabinet minister’s No. 1 priority.

Let’s look at a few things that unfolded regarding Canada-U.S. trade relations during Justin Trudeau’s first term as Prime Minister. He was elected in October, 2015, when former U.S. president Barack Obama was still in office. Chrystia Freeland was appointed trade minister, which included…

Oct 19

The bold steps Alberta should take to address its fiscal woes - Globe and Mail Op-Ed

Alberta’s coming budget on Oct. 24 could be a turning point for the province. Albertans face a choice between righting Alberta’s fiscal trajectory by confronting overspending – or postponing difficult choices with a harder reckoning down the road.

Many economic headwinds – for example, roadblocks to petroleum exports – are not Alberta’s fault. However, undisciplined spending growth hid behind flush resource revenues during past decades, and the province failed to save. Deficits since 2015 have plunged the provincial balance sheet into net debt. And, like all provinces, Alberta faces an aging population on the horizon. Without making bold moves toward a significant course correction, any balanced budget will be temporary.

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