January 2021 One of the central promises in the 2018 platform of the Ontario Progressive Conservative party was to “clean up the hydro mess.” And a mess there certainly is with the costs of subsidies out of general provincial revenues …
Ford struggles on the environment, pandemic, reflect a failing approach to governance
December 13, 2020 Published in the Hamilton Spectator December 15, 2020. Last week’s resignation of most of the province’s Greenbelt Council has again highlighted the Ford government’s apparent disregard for environmental issues, and its willingness to acquiesce to demands presented …
Climate and shifting markets define energy challenges for Canada
Published in The Hill Times, December 7, 2020 The state of energy policy in Canada, as it relates to fossil fuels, is defined by two major issues: the stalling out, with the possible exception of Quebec, of meaningful progress on …
Understanding the Ford Government’s Stumbling Response to COVID-19
November 15, 2020 Published in The Conversation, November 18, 2020, The National Post, November 19, 2020 Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government has come to be defined by two things: its hesitant responses to the emerging second wave of COVID-19; and a …
Canada’s Small Modular Reactor Odyssey
October 30, 2020 Published in Policy Options, November 18, 2020 Last month’s federal Speech from the Throne contained a somewhat cryptic statement that, in addition to “supporting investments in renewable energy” the federal government would be supporting “next-generation clean energy …
Empathetic incompetence? The Ford government at 2 years
Published in The Conversation, August 25, 2020; Hamilton Spectator, September 9, 2020. Now into the third year of its mandate, the Ontario government under Premier Doug Ford is being assessed for its handling of the COVID-19 crisis. The impressions are …
Re: Proposal Number: 20-MMAH006/ 2.ERO 019-1679: Proposed Land Needs Assessment Methodology for A Place to Growth: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
July 24, 2020 Ontario Growth Secretariat Municipal Affairs and Housing 777 Bay Street 23rd floor, Suite 2304 Toronto, ON M7A 2J3 Canada Re: Proposal Number: 20-MMAH006/ 2.ERO 019-1679: Proposed Land Needs Assessment Methodology for A Place to Growth: Growth Plan …
Has Ontario made itself an “innovation wasteland” on energy?
July 13, 2020 On the Friday afternoon before the week of the Canada Day holiday, the Ford government in Ontario quietly announced a change to the province’s electricity rate structure. Going forward, industrial energy consumers are no longer to be …
We need inquiries into why coronavirus is ravaging long-term care homes
Published in The Conversation, May 24, 2020, Charlottetown Guardian, May 28, 2020. By Bruce Campbell, Mark Winfield and Pat Armstrong (York University) Ontario says it will establish a commission to study the handling of COVID-19 in the province’s long-term care …
The Ontario long-term care home COVID-19 pandemic disaster: The case for a public inquiry
By Bruce Campbell, Mark Winfield and Pat Armstrong Updated version published in the Hamilton Spectator, May 23, 2020. May 12, 2020 Long-term care facilities, have emerged as the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Rates of COVID-19 infections have …