Environment

Federal Reforms and the Empty Shell of Environmental Assessment

— May 31, 2018

Federal Reforms and the Empty Shell of Environmental Assessment finds that environmental assessments for resource development projects, such as oil and gas pipelines, have always been arbitrary and political, and the federal government’s proposed reforms—contained in Bill C-69—do nothing to change that. If anything, the changes may increase uncertainty in the project approval process.

Environmental Ranking for Canada and the OECD

— Apr 19, 2018

Environmental Ranking for Canada and the OECD finds that Canada is a world leader in environmental performance and ranks in the top ten among the world’s wealthiest, cleanest and most developed countries on a wide range of environmental indicators.

Canada’s Climate Action Plans: Are They Cost-effective?

— Nov 16, 2017

Canada’s Climate Action Plans: Are they cost-effective? finds that current provincial plans will cost Canadians billions and likely produce very little environmental benefits, based on a detailed review of provincial climate action plans and results from countries and other jurisdictions around the world that have pursued similar policies.

Poor Implementation Undermines Carbon Tax Efficiency in Canada

— May 4, 2017

Poor Implementation Undermines Carbon Tax Efficiency in Canada finds that the theoretical benefits of carbon taxes and cap-and-trade schemes—that they can lower emissions and improve the economy at the same time—are negated by poor implementation such as layering these schemes on top of, instead of replacing existing regulations.

Canada's Air Quality Since 1970: An Environmental Success Story

— Apr 20, 2017

Canada's Air Quality Since 1970: An Environmental Success Story finds that levels of four major air pollutants—ground-level ozone, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide—have all fallen substantially since the 1970s despite significant population and economic growth and increased energy usage over the same time.

Did the Coal Phase-out Reduce Ontario Air Pollution?

— Jan 17, 2017

Did the Coal Phase-out Reduce Ontario Air Pollution finds that the coal phase-out produced only a small reduction in fine particulates, a common measure of air pollution, and in Toronto and Hamilton, the reduction was statistically insignificant. In fact, had the province completed its modernization of the coal-fired plants, instead of shutting them down, fine particulate reductions of the same size could have been achieved at a much lower cost.

Recent Environment Commentaries and Blog Posts

To adapt to climate change, end supply management

William Watson

Canada’s supply management systems impose tariffs of up to 300 per cent on above-quota imports.

Canada’s climate policy mess is hardly ‘cost-effective’

Ross McKitrick

Handouts are far costlier than emission tax revenues to fund reductions in other tax rates.

With latest Keystone court ruling, the oil blockade continues

Kenneth P. Green

Capital investment in Canada’s oil and natural gas in 2017 was down 44 per cent from 2014.

Ontario sweeps Drive Clean into the dust bin

Kenneth P. Green

Inefficient I/M programs cost motorists time and money.

The carbon taxman is coming

Kenneth P. Green

Appeared in the Calgary Sun, October 31, 2018

The federal carbon price will reach $50.00 per tonne by 2022.

Trudeau government carbon tax plan rife with problems

Kenneth P. Green

Appeared in the Vancouver Province, October 30, 2018

For carbon pricing to be efficient and economically benign, it must be emplaced in lieu of regulations.

Will the CAI solve our climate-policy problem and end eco-micro-management?

William Watson

One reason for a federation is to pursue different approaches to policy.

Carbon taxes—a stunning bite looms

Kenneth P. Green

The climate threat is based on computerized models that grossly overstate warming.

Federal government’s carbon-pricing system violates basic tenets of efficient carbon pricing

Elmira Aliakbari, Ashley Stedman

The plan doesn’t account for job losses, lower wages and reduced investment when calculating the impacts of the carbon tax on Canadian households.

Ottawa struggles with Indigenous consultation, stunts resource development in Canada

Elmira Aliakbari, Ashley Stedman

Appeared in the Calgary Herald, October 22, 2018

Bill C-69 would add more uncertainty to Canada’s already onerous regulatory process.

Research Experts

Elmira Aliakbari

Associate Director, Natural Resource Studies, Fraser Institute
Pierre Desrochers

Associate Professor of Geography, University of Toronto
Glenn Fox

Professor of Agricultural Economics and Business, University of Guelph
Kenneth P. Green

Resident Scholar and Chair in Energy and Environmental Studies, Fraser Institute
Ross McKitrick

Professor of Economics, University of Guelph
Cornelis "Kees" van Kooten

Professor of Economics, University of Victoria
Joel Wood

Associate Professor of Economics, Thompson Rivers University

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Environment

Federal Reforms and the Empty Shell of Environmental Assessment

Environmental Ranking for Canada and the OECD

Canada’s Climate Action Plans: Are They Cost-effective?

Poor Implementation Undermines Carbon Tax Efficiency in Canada

Canada's Air Quality Since 1970: An Environmental Success Story

Did the Coal Phase-out Reduce Ontario Air Pollution?

Research Experts