January 2024 Version published in the Toronto Star, January 22, 2024 Last month the Ford government announced its intention to procure 2000MW of new electricity supplies from renewable sources, including wind, solar and hydro by 2030, with a potential for …
The Political and Policy Impact of the Breakdown of the Federal-Provincial Consensus on Climate Change
November 12, 2023 Version published in The Conversation, November 19, 2023 It has been a bad few weeks for the federal government’s strategies around climate change A decision to respond to concerns, principally in Atlantic Canada, about the impact of …
SEI Studies in Ontario Energy Policy Series #8: Post-Consumer Management of End-of-Life Electric Vehicle Batteries
October 2023 – Summary published in Policy Options, November 16, 2023 Study Summary. The Canadian federal government, as well as the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, has committed tens of billions of dollars to the development of electric vehicle (EV) …
The Political and Policy Fallout from Doug Ford’s Greenbelt Reversal
September 22, 2023 Published in The Conversation, September 25, 2023 Doug Ford’s extraordinary reversal on his moves last fall to open the Greater Toronto Area Greenbelt for housing development flows from two colossal political miscalculations. The first was to failure …
The Greenbelt “Episode,” the State of Ontario Politics, and the Future of the GTHA.
September 8, 2023 Published in the Conversation, September 11, 2023. The past few weeks have witnessed an extraordinary series of events in Ontario politics. Reports tabled by the province’s Auditor General and Integrity Commissioner on the government’s November 2022 decision …
What does the Auditor General’s report tell us about Doug Ford’s approach to governance?
August 10, 2023 Published in The Conversation, August 17, 2023 Findings of this week’s report from Ontario’s Auditor General on the Ford government’s decision to remove 7400 acres from the Greater Toronto Area Greenbelt came as no surprise to those …
Ontario turns rational energy planning on its head
July 18, 2023 (updated from July 10); Version published in the Toronto Star July 15/July 21, 2023. Ontario’s energy plan released last week opened the door marginally on renewable energy and energy efficiency. But it also reaffirmed the centrality of …
Doug Ford at 5 years: Selling out Ontario’s future to please the well-connected
Published in The Conversation June 13, 202, The Hamilton Spectator, June 24, 2023 The initial political success of the Doug Ford government in Ontario has been attributed to its ability to connect with those who have seen themselves as the …
Finding pathways out of Ontario’s hydro and climate mess?
Version published in Policy Options, May 29, 2023 The recent federal budget reinforced the centrality of the electrification of transportation, building heating, and industrial activities in meeting Canada’s climate change targets and obligations. The situation has led to suggestions that …
Is Ottawa’s ‘clean’ industrial and climate strategy putting energy production ahead of energy productivity?
Version published in Policy Options, April 23, 2023. By Mark Winfield and Johanne Whitmore The federal government’s 2023 Budget has drawn considerable praise for its $80 billion in federal investments in a ‘clean industrial’ strategy aimed at meeting Canada’s climate …