“He also shared a few bold predictions. Investors, he said, would have to spend $400 billion to realize the Liberal plan, but there would be a net benefit to Canadians of $29 billion by 2050. He also put out on social media a claim by the Canadian Climate Institute that
Continue readingTag: public policy
52 Ideas: Rex Murphy’s poor argument about the Tragedy in Texas made me write this post
“In reality, failures in natural gas, coal and nuclear energy systems were responsible for nearly twice as many outages as frozen wind turbines and solar panels, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the state’s power grid, said in a press conference Tuesday.” No, renewable energy is not primarily
Continue reading52 Ideas: Germany’s pandemic recovery has a direct effect on Alberta
It is rare for the Province of Alberta to feel the effects of a policy decision made by the German Federal Government. However, it is clear that over the next few years, Alberta’s economy – from Calgary to Edmonton, from Banff to Lloydminster – will begin to see an unprecedented
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: Dwight and Tom’s legacy: more of the same #nlpoli
Herb Kitchen died last week. He was the minister of finance in the early 1990s who brought down the difficult budgets, starting in 1991 that were part of a plan that turned the provincial government around. The deficit at the time was about $300 million and the total budget called
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: Bursting bureaucratic bullshit bubbles #nlpoli
The daily average for new CVD cases has been declining since late March. In one of the provinces hardest hit by COVID-19, Ontarians got a roadmapon Monday on how the provincial government will loosen restrictions on their daily lives. One of the indicators used to make the judgment will be
Continue readingeaves.ca: Covid-19: Lessons from and for Government Digital Service Groups
This article was written by David Eaves, lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School, Tom Loosemore, Partner at Public Digital, with Tommaso Cariati and Blanka Soulava, students at the Harvard Kennedy School. It first appeared in Apolitical. Government digital services have proven critical to the pandemic response. As a result, the
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: Balancing the Economy #nlpoli
Both Delia Warren and Dwight Ball believe that we need to diversify the provincial economy and reduce our dependence on oil. They both believe that our future should lie with more renewable energy. Delia thinks there is room for things like wind farms. Dwight, an original and enthusiastic Muskrateer, thinks
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: Cannabis and culture #nlpoli
Politics and policy are much more complicated things than they appear to many people. Change is possible, but effective change can only come if we see the world as it is, not as some people imagine it might be. Canada’s legal cannabis policy in most Canadian provinces is a failure. There
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: Banning plastic bags and public policy in Newfoundland and Labrador #nlpoli
Effective public policy must be based on a clear understanding of the problem and its relation to other issues, as well as public needs and behaviour. “…almost 50% of all wind borne litter escaping from landfills in Newfoundland and Labrador is plastic, much of it single-use plastic bags…. There’s the
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: Advisory: Launch of the Guelph Equine Public Policy Group
The hard reality is that Canadian horses and horsepeople suffer when our voice goes unheard in the corridors of power. The Guelph Equine Public Policy Group will ensure that Canada’s governments understand how they can – and why they must – serve the equine community public interest.
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: TVO’s The Agenda: Animal Welfare at a Crossroads – Videocast
The courts have ruled that the Ontario SPCA’s police powers are unconstitutional. What is the future for animal welfare enforcement in Canada’s largest province? Who can or will protect creatures who can not cry out for mercy?
Continue readingAkaash Maharaj - Practical Idealism: Advisory: GOPAC Thanks our Outgoing CEO
Serving as CEO of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption was one of the great honours of my life, and I am immensely proud of all we achieved together over the past six years, in every region of the world.
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Escalating war on net neutrality, Bell Canada wants to block Canadians’ access to pirate websites
Back in April, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) ruled in favour of net neutrality and declared that “Internet service providers should treat data traffic equally to foster consumer choice, innovation and the free exchange of ideas.” Bell Media, one of Canada’s “big three” telecom companies, wants to change
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Escalating war on net neutrality, Bell Canada wants to block Canadians’ access to pirate websites
Back in April, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) ruled in favour of net neutrality and declared that “Internet service providers should treat data traffic equally to foster consumer choice, innovation and the free exchange of ideas.” Bell Media, one of Canada’s “big three” telecom companies, wants to change
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Re-thinking refugee protection: focusing on people and safe passage
Efforts in Canada to provide safe passage to asylum seekers crossing into Canada from the United States prove that people power and civil society action can change public policy and save lives. The post Re-thinking refugee protection: focusing on people and safe passage appeared first on The Canadian Progressive.
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Canadian government publications still don’t belong to the people as Ottawa maintains its iron grip on Crown copyright
PHOTOS: Government documents. Really! (Photo: Libraries and Archives Canada.) Legislators in Ottawa need to get cracking to make Canada’s Crown copyright law responsive to the needs of the citizens of a democracy. Below: University of Alberta Copyright Librarian Amanda Wakaruk and Saskatoon West NDP MP Shari Benson. Canada’s Crown copyright
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Canada 150: Reconciling who we are with who we want to be
Today, on the occasion of Canada 150, we should be asking ourselves tough questions relating to the role of public policy in Canada’s ongoing efforts at reconciling with Indigenous people. According to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives: “Above all, we must deliberately put Indigenous voices and lived experiences at
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Canada Revenue Agency suspends controversial Harper-era audit of charities
The Canada Revenue Agency has suspended the controversial Harper-era auditing of Canadian charities’ political activities. But some targeted organizations such as the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, a respected left-leaning think-tank, still await closure on their audit. The post Canada Revenue Agency suspends controversial Harper-era audit of charities appeared first
Continue readingeaves.ca: Government, Digital Services & IT Procurement Reform
Next semester I’ll be teaching a course on why healthcare.gov initially turned into a disaster. Why? Because sadly, the failure of healthcare.gov was not special. Conservative estimates suggest over half of all IT projects are not completed on time or on budget. Others suggest the numbers are higher still. What
Continue readingeaves.ca: The Future of USDS: Trump, civic tech and the lesson of GDS
Across Washington, the country, and the world, the assumptions people have about various programs, policies and roles have been radically altered in the last 12 hours with the victory of President-Elect Trump. Many of my students and colleagues have asked me — what does this mean for the future of United States
Continue reading