In October, the Government of Alberta held public consultations to garner public input on changes to the Municipal Government Act. These changes could result in Alberta’s two largest cities gaining additional power and resources from the Government of Alberta. This has relevance not only to voters, but also to a…
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Canada’s federal government has begun national consultations on the development of a “national housing strategy.” The government is expected to release a report on November 22, which is also National Housing Day. The consultation web site is called “Let’s Talk Housing.” It includes the consultation’s stated vision, principles, themes, intended…
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On April 14, the Alberta government tabled its 2016-17 budget: Alberta Jobs Plan. Here are 10 things to know about it: A new carbon tax (known as a “carbon levy”) was announced. As a result, in 2017, Albertans will pay an extra 4.5 cents per litre of gasoline and 5.35 cents for…
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The push for new pipelines to bring Alberta bitumen to “tidewater” is on, even as the ink is barely dry on the Paris Agreement, and its call to action on climate change. Alberta Premier Notley argues that “We’re not making a choice between the environment and the economy. We are building the economy.”…
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Alberta’s 2016 Budget presents its plan to price carbon, in two parts: a new Carbon Levy applied to transportation and heating fuel, at $20 per tonne of CO2 (4.5 cents per litre at the pump) starting January 2017, rising to $30 (6.7 cents per litre) in 2018; and, changes to…
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When newly-elected Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled Canada’s first gender-balanced cabinet last fall, the concept of gender parity at the highest levels of government still mystified some. “Why 50/50?” they asked. Trudeau’s response resonated across the Twitterverse: “Because it’s 2015”. “Because it’s 2015” implies an incredulity that the question still…
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How times have changed in 2015. Just days away from the Paris climate conference, Prime Minister Trudeau met with the Premiers to talk about working together to make Canada a leader on climate. Compare this to PM Harper, who never met with the Premiers, championed the oil and gas industry, and if…
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Congratulations to the Pembina Institute on a poll they conducted with EKOS Research, assessing support for climate action among Albertans. The results are fascinating and hopeful. For a good post media summary, see this Vancouver Sun article. A few highlights: A large majority of respondents (70%) support investing in renewable energy…
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Since management of Canada’s energy resources has become a major economic issue in this election, I thought it would be useful to review how Norway and Canada—both major producers and exporters of petroleum (oil and gas)—go about it. Spoiler alert: Norway manages its energy resources much better than we do….
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In 1995, Canada made historic commitments to implement gender equality in all policies, programs, and laws when it adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. That same year saw the adoption in Canada of The Federal Plan for Gender Equality to secure gender equality in all aspects of social,…
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