The first six months of Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government have been nothing if not dramatic. The Ford government has been defined by a governing style that has often seemed arbitrary, impulsive, at times vindictive, and highly assertive of the …
The Ontario Climate Change Plan: An Assessment
December 3, 2018 The Ford government in Ontario released its climate change plan, on November 29. The plan is intended to replace the cap and trade system and climate change action plan of the previous Liberal government. Ideally, from the …
Ontario Climate Change Plan – A Preliminary Analysis
November 29, 2018 The Ford government in Ontario released its climate change plan, intended to replace the cap and trade system and climate change action plan of the previous government today. At the macro level there is a fairly explicit …
Shooting the messenger? Doug Ford’s proposal to downgrade Ontario’s environmental watchdog.
November 16, 2018 By Mark Winfield, Sheila Colla and Faisal Moola Buried deep within the massive omnibus bill that accompanied the Ford government’s fall economic statement last week were a series of provisions that effectively fold of the role of …
How post-truth politics is sinking debate on environmental assessment reform
Mark Winfield (York), Martin Olsznski (Calgary), and Deborah Curran (Victoria), with contributions from Hugh Benevides Published in The Conversation, October 11, 2018 The past few weeks have been characterized by a growing chorus of political and media voices, many from …
No easy way out for Liberals on Trans Mountain pipeline
The August 30st decision of the Federal Court of Appeal’s against the federal government’s approval of the Alberta to British Columbia Trans Mountain pipeline expansion seems to have come as a shock to the federal and Alberta governments. It was …
Letter to the Editor – Globe and Mail July 16, 2018
Re Political Rhetoric Clouds How Carbon Pricing Could Work (Report on Business, July 11) Konrad Yakabuski’s conclusion that carbon pricing alone is unlikely to be sufficient to prompt a viable low-carbon transition in the economy comes as no surprise to …
Ford’s hydro moves will do nothing to reduce rates.
Last week was marked by a string of high profile moves on the province’s electricity system by the new Ford government. These included the ouster of Hydro One CEO Mayo Schmidt and the subsequent resignation of the remainder of the …
The Ford Doctrine: (very) short-term gain for long-term pain
Ontario premier-designate Doug Ford has yet to actually take office, but last week saw a series of major announcements indicating some intended directions for his incoming government. The first was a declaration of the intent to end Ontario’s participation in …
Ontario Election 2018: The Implications for Ontario’s Environment, Economy and Politics
June 2018 Last week’s election in Ontario produced a new Progressive Conservative (PC) government, led by former Toronto city Councillor Doug Ford. The PCs received just over 40 percent of the popular vote, winning 76 of 124 seats in the …