Ben Dachis – Getting the Big (and Small) Things Right in National Energy Board Review
To: The Hon. Jim Carr, Minister of Natural Resources From: Benjamin Dachis Date: June 14, 2017 Re: Getting the Big (and Small) Things Right in National Energy Board Review It’s been a busy month on pipeline news. The National Energy Board (NEB) is setting the scope of its review of TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline; there’s […] How to patch up the National Energy Board’s reputation: Edmonton Journal Op-Ed
Ottawa is now accepting public comment on the recently released report of its expert panel on the modernization of the National Energy Board (NEB).
The panel made 46 recommendations to the minister of natural resources. Many recommendations, if accepted, would fundamentally change the structure, mandate and governance of the NEB. They would also change how decisions are made about pipelines and transmission lines that cross provincial borders. Unfortunately, the report missed a major opportunity to restore the tattered reputation of the NEB.
Reform is needed to assist the federal government and the NEB, or any successor organization, to regain public credibility and trust in decision-making related to federally…
Blocking pipeline will make it harder to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: Calgary Herald Op-Ed
Last week, politicians made it harder for Canada to meet its greenhouse gas emissions reduction target.
Think I’m talking about Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris agreement? No, it’s a potential attempt by B.C. politicians to block the building of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline. By rejecting the pipeline, B.C. politicians are going to make it harder to reduce Canada’s emissions.
The B.C. NDP and Green parties agreed to “immediately employ every tool available to the new government to stop the expansion of the Kinder Morgan pipeline,” despite federal approval of the project, itself subject to many conditions regarding safety and environmental concerns.
First, let’s admit to one thing: more pipelines…
Ben Dachis – Don’t Assess Upstream Greenhouse Gas Emissions In Energy East Review
From: Benjamin Dachis To: Peter Watson, Chair of the National Energy Board Date: May 30, 2017 Re: Don’t Assess Upstream Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Energy East Review As you look ahead to reviewing TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline proposal to ship eastward Western Canadian oil, you’ve asked for the public’s advice on whether the National Energy […] How to Restore Public Trust and Credibility at the National Energy Board
The federal government should restore the independence of the National Energy Board’s (NEB) decisionmaking authority for pipeline applications, according to a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute. In How to Restore Public Trust and Credibility at the National Energy Board, author Lesley Matthews urges Ottawa to establish the NEB as a credible, effective and […] Defining the Public Interest in Regulatory Decisions: The Case for Economic Efficiency
Canada’s public utility regulators, in sectors ranging from energy to telecommunications, are facing a crisis of legitimacy because they promise more than they can deliver and do not deliver what they should, according to a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute. In Defining the Public Interest in Regulatory Decisions: The Case for Economic Efficiency, […] Ben Dachis – Clean Fuel Standard Driving in the Wrong Direction
From: Benjamin Dachis To: The Hon. Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada Date: April 25, 2017 Re: Clean Fuel Standard Driving in the Wrong Direction Transportation is a major contributor to Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for 24 percent of total emissions. One policy tool Ottawa is driving forward with to […] Surge Capacity: Selling City-owned Electricity Distributors to Meet Broader Municipal Infrastructure Needs
Cities across Canada should sell their electricity distribution companies and invest the proceeds in critical municipal infrastructure, according to a new C.D. Howe Institute report. In “Surge Capacity: Selling City-owned Electricity Distributors to Meet Broader Municipal Infrastructure Needs,” author Steven Robins demonstrates why there is no compelling public policy rationale for municipalities to hold these […] Ryan Kellogg – Should Canada and the US Adopt a Market-Based Approach to Fuel Economy?
From: Ryan Kellogg To: The Hon. Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport CC: The Hon. Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Date: April 6, 2017 Re: Should Canada and the US Adopt a Market-Based Approach to Fuel Economy? Volatile gasoline prices have caused regulators and carmakers alike to question the cost and effectiveness of […] How Ontario Can End the Cycle of Meddling in Electricity Markets: Globe and Mail Op-Ed
Every 10 years or so, the government of Ontario finds it necessary to freeze or cut electricity prices because the costs of an ambitious energy policy prove to be politically unacceptable. This leaves every generation of electricity customers paying for the cost of a failed experiment from a previous generation. We should learn from this experience and implement a governance model for the sector that reviews and mitigates costs before a policy is adopted, not after.
In 1993, the government froze prices because the costs of Ontario Hydro’s massive nuclear expansion were leading to double-digit rate increases. In 2002, the government froze prices because the electricity market opening resulted in higher and more volatile prices. In…
George Vegh – Ending the Cycle of Electricity Price Interventions in Ontario
From: George Vegh To: Ontario Electricity Consumers Date: March 15, 2017 Re: Ending the Cycle of Electricity Price Interventions in Ontario Every decade the government of Ontario freezes or cuts electricity prices because the costs of an ambitious energy policy prove to be politically unacceptable. This leaves future electricity customers paying for the cost of […] Ben Dachis on BNN: Why Albertans’ energy bills don’t benefit from daylight savings time
Ben Dachis, Associate Director of Research at the Institute, joins BNN to discuss a report that finds there is a strong case behind abolishing daylight savings time in Alberta while those in Ontario see energy savings.
Click here to read part 1 and part 2 of the Intelligence Memo by Blake Shaffer and Nic Rivers.