Grant Bishop – Ottawa Needs to Get Back to Carbon Pricing Basics
From: Grant Bishop To: Climate policy observers Date: November 14, 2023 Re: Ottawa Needs to Get Back to Carbon Pricing Basics Last month, a Supreme Court majority held that the core of the federal Impact Assessment Act (IAA) is unconstitutional – a “Trojan horse” of federal overreach into provincial jurisdiction. Amid much criticism, this legislation was enacted […] Grant Sprague – The Supreme Court Was Clear: Governments Need to Align on Green Agenda
From: Grant Sprague To: Canada’s governments Date: November 6, 2023 Re: The Supreme Court Was Clear: Governments Need to Align on Green Agenda Four years ago, the federal government enacted the Impact Assessment Act (IAA), also known as Bill C-69. The reception was not good. In some circles, the legislation became known as the “no-more […] Charles DeLand – Some Easy Fixes for the New Carbon Capture Tax Credit
From: Charles DeLand To: The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Finance of Canada Date: November 2, 2023 Re: Some Easy Fixes for the New Carbon Capture Tax Credit Canada’s federal government has proposed a range of policies over the past few years designed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Among them, refundable investment tax credits […] Jon Johnson – NAFTA/CUSMA Investor/State Disputes – Fading Away or Out with a Bang
From: Jon Johnson To: Keystone Saga Watchers Date: October 27, 2023 Re: NAFTA/CUSMA Investor/State Disputes – Fading Away or Out with a Bang The claim brought by TC Energy (formerly TransCanada Pipelines) under the CUSMA procedures for NAFTA investor/state claims is massive: US$15 billion plus interest. The claim, relating to TC Energy’s construction of the […] Crystal Gooding – Throwing Money in the Trash? Solutions for Plastic Waste
This week, we present the three top finishers in the C.D. Howe Institute Intelligence Memo competition, which was open to graduate students across the country. Today, our first co-winner. To: Canadians Concerned About Plastic Pollution From: Crystal Gooding Date: October 24, 2023 Re: Throwing Money in the Trash? Solutions for Plastic Waste While the world’s […] Feds shouldn’t amend the pipeline act without real input from the provinces – Financial Post
Four years ago, the federal government enacted the Impact Assessment Act (IAA), also known as Bill C-69. The reception was not good. In some circles, the legislation became known as the “no-more pipelines bill.” Industry associations, scholars and governments expressed their misgivings with the act and the effects it was likely to have on resource development. This month the Supreme Court of Canada confirmed the act is unconstitutional. Whoops!
The door is not shut on a better approach, however. But Ottawa and the provinces need to work together to achieve it, starting now. In the decision’s conclusion, Chief Justice Wagner wrote: “This scheme plainly overstepped the mark.” What are the key elements that federal policy-makers…
Charles DeLand – Time to Come Clean on Going Green
To: Canada’s political class From: Charles DeLand Date: September 14, 2023 Re: Time to Come Clean on Going Green Ottawa’s policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will cost Canadians both directly and indirectly. In 2021, the Royal Bank estimated that reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 could cost as much as $2 trillion – almost three-quarters of last year’s GDP. We will also need […] Reducing emissions will cost. Governments need to admit that – Financial Post
Ottawa’s policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will cost Canadians, both directly and indirectly. In 2021, the Royal Bank estimated that reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 could cost as much as $2 trillion — which is almost three-quarters of last year’s entire GDP. We will also need to spend more to protect against a changing climate. To pay for all this, Canada badly needs economic growth.
Though virtually all governments and opposition parties twist themselves into knots to avoid saying it, trying to prevent climate change will cause economic pain. Yes, there will be new “sustainable” jobs and businesses, but the net impact will almost surely be negative. Assigning a price, by tax or regulation, to…
G. Kent Fellows – Renewables Moratorium Risks Harming Alberta’s Investment Climate
To: Nathan Neudorf, Alberta Minister of Affordability and Utilities From: G. Kent Fellows Date: August 21, 2023 Re: Renewables Moratorium Risks Harming Alberta’s Investment Climate Your government’s move last week to pause approvals for new renewable electricity investments sends a strong signal: The free-market fundamentals underpinning the province’s approach to electricity are no longer as […] Ben Brunnen – It’s Time to Move on Canada’s LNG Opportunity
From: Ben Brunnen To: Canadian Energy Observers Date: August 17, 2023 Re: It’s Time to Move on Canada’s LNG Opportunity In the drive to reduce global greenhouse-gas emissions, provide affordable energy, enhance energy security and provide benefits to Canadians, the country has an opportunity to play a vital role: exporting liquid natural gas. According to the International Energy Agency, […] Charles DeLand – A Nuclear Blueprint for Alberta
To: Brian Jean, Alberta Minister of Energy and Minerals From: Charles DeLand Date: August 14, 2023 Re: A Nuclear Blueprint for Alberta Fans of Canadian nuclear energy have much to root for these days. Two recent Ontario announcements, one about small modular reactors and one for a new large-scale project, indicate meaningful commitment to nuclear energy to meet […] Alberta’s renewable energy pause goes against conservative free market fundamentals – Globe and Mail
Alberta’s move last week to pause approvals for new renewable electricity investments sends a strong signal: The conservative, free-market fundamentals underpinning the province’s approach to electricity are no longer as strong as the past few decades might suggest.
Whatever happens between now and next February, when the moratorium expires, Alberta’s electricity industry is at a crossroads: Does the province continue to embrace its quarter-century as a free, open market, or will the government and regulator take more interventionist control over the type and location of generation investments?
In 1996, then-premier Ralph Klein’s Progressive Conservative government decided to let market forces govern…