Is tidal energy the surge remote coastal communities need?
Many remote West Coast communities rely on diesel for electricity generation, which poses a range of negative economic, social, and environmental effects.
But some sites along B.C.’s extensive coastline are ideal for tidal energy micro-grids that may well be the answer for off-grid communities to generate clean power, suggested experts at a COAST (Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies) virtual event Wednesday.
Tidal energy exploits the natural ebb and flow of the coast’s tidal water and is a highly predictable source of renewable energy, says Ben Whitby, program manager at PRIMED, a marine renewable energy research lab at the University of Victoria (UVic).
Micro-grids might someday be able to provide clean power to many coastal communities, and the best candidates for tidal energy are small, off-grid communities largely dependent on costly fossil fuels, Whitby said.
“The focus in B.C. is at a smaller scale,” he said.
“The time it would take (these communities) to recoup any capital investment is a lot shorter.
“And the cost is actually on a par because they're already paying a significant amount of money for that diesel-generated power.”
Micro-grids are self-reliant energy systems drawing on renewables from ocean, wind, solar, small hydro, and geothermal sources.
There are challenges involved, including the added cost and complexity of construction in remote communities, the storage of intermittent power for later use, the economic model, the costs associated with tidal power installations, and financing for small communities, said Lisa Kalynchuk, vice-president of research and innovation at UVic.
But smaller tidal energy projects can potentially set a track record for more nascent marine renewables, at a lower cost and without facing the same social or regulatory resistance a large-scale project might face.
A successful tidal energy demo project was set up using a MAVI tidal turbine in Blind Channel to power a private resort on West Thurlow Island, part of the outer Discovery Islands chain wedged between Vancouver Island and the mainland, Whitby said.
The channel’s strong tidal currents, which routinely reach six knots and are close to the marina, proved a good site to test the small-scale turbine and associated micro-grid system that could be replicated to power remote communities, he said.
The mooring system, cable, and turbine were installed fairly rapidly and ran through the summer of 2017. The system is no longer active as provincial and federal funding for the project came to an end.
“But as a proof of concept, we think it was very successful,” Whitby said, adding micro-grid tidal power is still in the early stages of development.
Ideally, the project will be revived with new funding, so it can continue to act as a test site for marine renewable energy and to showcase the system to remote coastal communities that might want to consider tidal power, he said.
In addition to harnessing a local, renewable energy source and increasing energy independence, tidal energy micro-grids can fuel employment and new business opportunities, said Whitby.
The Blind Channel project was installed using the local supply chain out of nearby Campbell River, he said.
“Most of the vessels and support came from that area, so it was all really locally sourced.”
There are a number of potential tidal energy sites near off-grid communities along the mainland, on both sides of Vancouver Island, and in the Haida Gwaii region that could be tapped to provide clean energy, Whitby said.
Currently, there are around 40 isolated communities along the coast and 32 are primarily reliant on diesel for electricity generation, said Whitby, noting many remote locations are Indigenous communities.
Besides being a costly and unreliable source of energy, there are environmental and community health considerations associated with shipping diesel to remote communities and running generators, Whitby said.
“It's not purely an economic question,” he said.
“You've got the emissions associated with diesel generation. There's also the risks of transporting diesel … and sometimes in a lot of remote communities on Vancouver Island, when deliveries of diesel don't come through, they end up with no power for three or four days at a time.”
The Heiltsuk First Nation, which suffered a 110,000-litre diesel spill in its territorial waters in 2016, is an unfortunate case study for the potential environmental, social, and cultural risks remote coastal communities face from the transport of fossil fuels along the rough shoreline.
A U.S. barge hauling fuel for coastal communities in Alaska ran aground in Gale Pass, fouling a sacred and primary Heiltsuk food-harvesting area.
Besides obvious environmental benefits, renewable micro-grids can offer communities a measure of energy sovereignty, since the community, rather than a public utility like BC Hydro, is responsible for demand management, storage, and generation of power systems running independently or alongside backup fuel generators.
But depending on proximity, cost, and other renewable solutions, tidal energy isn’t necessarily the answer for every community, Whitby noted, adding that if access to hydro power is available, tidal energy is still more expensive.
Funding from senior levels of government would likely need to be provided to set up a permanent tidal energy demonstration site, or to help a community do case studies and finance a project, Whitby said.
Both the federal and provincial governments have established funding streams to transition remote communities away from relying on diesel.
But the projects funded federally or provincially to date have focused on more established renewables, such as hydro, solar, biomass, or wind.
The goal of B.C.’s Remote Community Energy Strategy, part of the CleanBC plan, is to reduce diesel use for electricity 80 per cent by 2030 by targeting 22 of the largest diesel locations in the province, many of which fall along the coast.
The province has announced a number of significant investments to shift Indigenous coastal communities away from diesel-generated electricity, but they predominantly involve solar or hydro projects.
And the funding application guide in 2020 deemed tidal projects as ineligible for cash.
But there’s lots of potential for tidal energy micro-grids in B.C., Kalynchuk said, noting UVic is a hub for significant research expertise and several local companies are employing and developing related service technologies to install and maintain the systems.
And that potential is not limited to the West Coast, but across Canada.
“Canada has approximately 40,000 megawatts available on our three coastlines,” Kalynchuk said.
“Of course, not all this power can be realized, but it does exist, so that leads us to the hard part — tapping into this available energy and delivering it to those remote communities that need it.”
Exploring tidal microgrids addresses the need to develop alternative sources of energy in the face of the climate crisis, she said.
“The path forward is complex and layered, but one essential component in combating climate change is a move away from fossil fuels to other sources of energy that are renewable and environmentally friendly.”
Rochelle Baker / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada’s National Observer
Rochelle Baker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada's National Observe
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
'We encourage people to do the research': A look at developing land acknowledgments
When Lance Cardinal was approached by the Edmonton Oilers to act as an Indigenous consultant, the Cree artist and designer knew the first thing he wanted to do was create a land acknowledgment.
Cardinal worked with the National Hockey League team and Chief Wilton Littlechild, a former commissioner for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to come up with a video briefly describing the history of the land that the club's downtown arena sits on.
In a pre-recorded video, Littlechild delivered the team's first land acknowledgment at its home opening game Oct. 13.
"As chief, I welcome you here to Treaty 6 territory. This land has been the traditional region for homelands of the Metis people of Alberta, the Inuit and ancestral territory of the Cree, Dene, Blackfoot, Saulteaux and Nakota Sioux people since time immemorial. The recognition of our history on this land is an act of reconciliation and we honour those who walk with us," says Littlechild.
The video ends with Littlechild saying "kinanaskomitin," or "thank you," in Cree.
"It was important to me for that acknowledgment to make sure it was spoken from our perspective — from a First Nations, first person, Indigenous perspective," Cardinal, who is from Bigstone Cree Nation in Treaty 8 territory in Alberta, said in a phone interview.
"Also talking about the different nations that lived, travelled and settled here ... those were important to have included as well."
The multimedia land acknowledgment is to be used before every home game and is to eventually include Cree syllabics.
Discourse on the purpose and practice of land acknowledgments has recently come to the forefront in social, political and educational settings across Canada.
The Manitoba government last month announced a consultation committee was being formed to help develop an acknowledgment to be used in the legislature.
Loretta Ross sees that as a positive move as long as it's done with sincerity and involves Indigenous people.
Ross has been Manitoba's treaty commissioner since 2017. Her office hasn't been asked to assist, but she said it gets two to three requests each week from groups asking for help developing land acknowledgments.
"We encourage people to do the research required to develop their own, and I think it's worked. People have taken the time to learn more about what they want to say," she said.
Ross said using acknowledgments may give some people a sense that they are doing something tangible in moving toward reconciliation. But those efforts cannot begin and end with land recognition, she said.
While some governments are embracing the practice, at least one has reconsidered it.
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs is facing growing criticism about a recent government policy that its employees stop making territorial or title acknowledgments. It says employees can make reference to ancestral territory, but not use terms like "unceded" and "unsurrendered."
The province's attorney general has cited a land-title claim, filed by Wolastoqey chiefs last year, as the reason for the policy. The chiefs have criticized the directive.
Leaked emails show that opposition is also coming from within cabinet. Two ministers wrote to the premier Oct. 15 complaining that the policy is causing unnecessary conflict and "creates the impression of a government intentionally reinforcing racist behaviour."
Christina Gray is an associate with JFK Law Corp. based in Prince Rupert, B.C. She is a Ts'msyen citizen from Lax Kw'alaams in B.C. and a Dene from Treaty 8 territory in the Northwest Territories.
She isn't involved in the New Brunswick case, but said the policy appears "very defensive."
"I don't know how many public servants there are, but it's a very interesting approach in a very small province."
She believes there is a place for land acknowledgments if they move beyond symbolic gestures. One way to do that is to include Indigenous languages like Cardinal did with the Oilers, she said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 27, 2021.
— With files from Kevin Bissett in Fredericton
___
This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press
When Lance Cardinal was approached by the Edmonton Oilers to act as an Indigenous consultant, the Cree artist and designer knew the first thing he wanted to do was create a land acknowledgment.
Cardinal worked with the National Hockey League team and Chief Wilton Littlechild, a former commissioner for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to come up with a video briefly describing the history of the land that the club's downtown arena sits on.
In a pre-recorded video, Littlechild delivered the team's first land acknowledgment at its home opening game Oct. 13.
"As chief, I welcome you here to Treaty 6 territory. This land has been the traditional region for homelands of the Metis people of Alberta, the Inuit and ancestral territory of the Cree, Dene, Blackfoot, Saulteaux and Nakota Sioux people since time immemorial. The recognition of our history on this land is an act of reconciliation and we honour those who walk with us," says Littlechild.
The video ends with Littlechild saying "kinanaskomitin," or "thank you," in Cree.
"It was important to me for that acknowledgment to make sure it was spoken from our perspective — from a First Nations, first person, Indigenous perspective," Cardinal, who is from Bigstone Cree Nation in Treaty 8 territory in Alberta, said in a phone interview.
"Also talking about the different nations that lived, travelled and settled here ... those were important to have included as well."
The multimedia land acknowledgment is to be used before every home game and is to eventually include Cree syllabics.
Discourse on the purpose and practice of land acknowledgments has recently come to the forefront in social, political and educational settings across Canada.
The Manitoba government last month announced a consultation committee was being formed to help develop an acknowledgment to be used in the legislature.
Loretta Ross sees that as a positive move as long as it's done with sincerity and involves Indigenous people.
Ross has been Manitoba's treaty commissioner since 2017. Her office hasn't been asked to assist, but she said it gets two to three requests each week from groups asking for help developing land acknowledgments.
"We encourage people to do the research required to develop their own, and I think it's worked. People have taken the time to learn more about what they want to say," she said.
Ross said using acknowledgments may give some people a sense that they are doing something tangible in moving toward reconciliation. But those efforts cannot begin and end with land recognition, she said.
While some governments are embracing the practice, at least one has reconsidered it.
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs is facing growing criticism about a recent government policy that its employees stop making territorial or title acknowledgments. It says employees can make reference to ancestral territory, but not use terms like "unceded" and "unsurrendered."
The province's attorney general has cited a land-title claim, filed by Wolastoqey chiefs last year, as the reason for the policy. The chiefs have criticized the directive.
Leaked emails show that opposition is also coming from within cabinet. Two ministers wrote to the premier Oct. 15 complaining that the policy is causing unnecessary conflict and "creates the impression of a government intentionally reinforcing racist behaviour."
Christina Gray is an associate with JFK Law Corp. based in Prince Rupert, B.C. She is a Ts'msyen citizen from Lax Kw'alaams in B.C. and a Dene from Treaty 8 territory in the Northwest Territories.
She isn't involved in the New Brunswick case, but said the policy appears "very defensive."
"I don't know how many public servants there are, but it's a very interesting approach in a very small province."
She believes there is a place for land acknowledgments if they move beyond symbolic gestures. One way to do that is to include Indigenous languages like Cardinal did with the Oilers, she said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 27, 2021.
— With files from Kevin Bissett in Fredericton
___
This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press
Vatican says Pope Francis willing to visit Canada as Indigenous leaders seek apology
The Vatican says Pope Francis is willing to visit Canada, as Indigenous leaders call on him apologize for the Catholic Church's role in residential schools. 
The Vatican says Pope Francis is willing to visit Canada, as Indigenous leaders call on him apologize for the Catholic Church's role in residential schools.
© Provided by The Canadian Press
The Vatican said in a statement that the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops invited Francis to travel to Canada in the "context of the long-standing pastoral process of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples."
The statement said the Pope indicated his "willingness" to do so at an undetermined date.
The development comes ahead of a trip to the Vatican that First Nations, Metis and Inuit leaders plan to take in December to meet with Francis in the hope of securing an apology.
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a statement that there's been meaningful discussions with Indigenous people, especially those affected by residential schools.
"We pray that Pope Francis’ visit to Canada will be a significant milestone in the journey toward reconciliation and healing," said the group's president, Most Rev. Raymond Poisson.
The 2015 final report from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, which chronicled the abuses suffered by Indigenous children at federally funded church-run residential schools, called for a papal apology to be delivered in Canada.
Those calls have grown louder over the past year, after the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at former residential school sites by First Nations in British Columbia and Saskatchewan.
Criticism has also intensified as concerns have been raised that the Catholic Church didn't properly compensate residential school survivors as agreed to under a landmark settlement.
— With files from The Associated Press
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 27, 2021.
The Canadian Press
The Vatican said in a statement that the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops invited Francis to travel to Canada in the "context of the long-standing pastoral process of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples."
The statement said the Pope indicated his "willingness" to do so at an undetermined date.
The development comes ahead of a trip to the Vatican that First Nations, Metis and Inuit leaders plan to take in December to meet with Francis in the hope of securing an apology.
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a statement that there's been meaningful discussions with Indigenous people, especially those affected by residential schools.
"We pray that Pope Francis’ visit to Canada will be a significant milestone in the journey toward reconciliation and healing," said the group's president, Most Rev. Raymond Poisson.
The 2015 final report from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, which chronicled the abuses suffered by Indigenous children at federally funded church-run residential schools, called for a papal apology to be delivered in Canada.
Those calls have grown louder over the past year, after the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at former residential school sites by First Nations in British Columbia and Saskatchewan.
Criticism has also intensified as concerns have been raised that the Catholic Church didn't properly compensate residential school survivors as agreed to under a landmark settlement.
— With files from The Associated Press
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 27, 2021.
The Canadian Press
Wednesday's letters: UCP tax cut didn't create jobs
Edmonton Journal
No sympathy for jobless anti-vaxxers
Chris Selley’s Oct. 23 article has me diving back in to a debate that I wish none of us had to even entertain. We are in a pandemic. As a result, many of the rights and freedoms that we have all enjoyed have been rightfully pushed aside for the greater health of all of us.
I am done listening to anti-vaxxers rant and rave about their rights. I am done worrying about how our hospitals are now filled with sick anti-vaxxers and that vaccinated folks who need surgery cannot get it because our ICUs are filled with the unvaccinated.
If you do not get vaccinated, you will likely lose your job. No employment insurance for you. You will be unable to travel or go to a concert or cafe. You will be outcast by the majority of people who have recognized that the health of our fellow human beings, worldwide, depends on all of us getting vaccinated and following health safety protocols.
I am beyond disgusted with the selfishness of those who continue to resist being vaccinated. Outcast? Too bad. Lost your job and now no EI? Too bad. These are simply the consequences of your actions, or lack of them. Expect no sympathy from me and many others.
Carol Alexander, Edmonton
Transparency goes both ways
Re. “We can’t trust what Canadian green groups say,” David Staples, Oct. 22
David Staples argues that you can’t trust what the so-called green groups say if you don’t know who is paying them to say it and pulling their strings. That seems fair enough. But I wonder what he has to say about the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Do we know who is funding that group? Fairness goes both ways.
Perhaps Mr. Staples should also clarify that he receives no funding and has no one pulling his strings for the positions he takes.
Don Davidson, Edmonton
Better uses for inquiry funding
So the overdue, over-budget $3.5-million report on foreign-funded activists came to the startling conclusion that there was no suggestion of wrongdoing and environmental groups were entitled to exercise their right to free speech. The report also panned the energy war room with its $12-million budget (reduced from $30 million) for its less-than-stellar reputation and numerous missteps.
It’s time for the UCP to stop placing blame for Alberta’s problems on third parties and start spending money where it will benefit Albertans. Just think of how many hip and knee replacements or MRIs this money could fund.
John Campbell, Edmonton
Edmonton Journal
© Provided by Edmonton Journal Alberta Premier Jason Kenney speaks in Calgary on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 about the the plan to kick-start construction on the Keystone XL pipeline. WHICH HE INVESTED ALBERTA TAX DOLLARS IN AND THE AMERICANS CANCELED IT.
Re. “UCP’s focus on jobs, economy in new session of legislature,” Oct. 25
The last time the UCP spent on job creation, it gifted a corporate tax cut with no accountability for creating a single job. Economic research shows that these non-transparent subsidies generally just go to the rich as stock dividends, CEO bonuses and stock buybacks.
Corporate tax cuts without job creation, paid for by cutting public-service jobs: do the math for net jobs.
Frank Jenkins, Edmonton
Re. “UCP’s focus on jobs, economy in new session of legislature,” Oct. 25
The last time the UCP spent on job creation, it gifted a corporate tax cut with no accountability for creating a single job. Economic research shows that these non-transparent subsidies generally just go to the rich as stock dividends, CEO bonuses and stock buybacks.
Corporate tax cuts without job creation, paid for by cutting public-service jobs: do the math for net jobs.
Frank Jenkins, Edmonton
No sympathy for jobless anti-vaxxers
Chris Selley’s Oct. 23 article has me diving back in to a debate that I wish none of us had to even entertain. We are in a pandemic. As a result, many of the rights and freedoms that we have all enjoyed have been rightfully pushed aside for the greater health of all of us.
I am done listening to anti-vaxxers rant and rave about their rights. I am done worrying about how our hospitals are now filled with sick anti-vaxxers and that vaccinated folks who need surgery cannot get it because our ICUs are filled with the unvaccinated.
If you do not get vaccinated, you will likely lose your job. No employment insurance for you. You will be unable to travel or go to a concert or cafe. You will be outcast by the majority of people who have recognized that the health of our fellow human beings, worldwide, depends on all of us getting vaccinated and following health safety protocols.
I am beyond disgusted with the selfishness of those who continue to resist being vaccinated. Outcast? Too bad. Lost your job and now no EI? Too bad. These are simply the consequences of your actions, or lack of them. Expect no sympathy from me and many others.
Carol Alexander, Edmonton
Transparency goes both ways
Re. “We can’t trust what Canadian green groups say,” David Staples, Oct. 22
David Staples argues that you can’t trust what the so-called green groups say if you don’t know who is paying them to say it and pulling their strings. That seems fair enough. But I wonder what he has to say about the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Do we know who is funding that group? Fairness goes both ways.
Perhaps Mr. Staples should also clarify that he receives no funding and has no one pulling his strings for the positions he takes.
Don Davidson, Edmonton
Better uses for inquiry funding
So the overdue, over-budget $3.5-million report on foreign-funded activists came to the startling conclusion that there was no suggestion of wrongdoing and environmental groups were entitled to exercise their right to free speech. The report also panned the energy war room with its $12-million budget (reduced from $30 million) for its less-than-stellar reputation and numerous missteps.
It’s time for the UCP to stop placing blame for Alberta’s problems on third parties and start spending money where it will benefit Albertans. Just think of how many hip and knee replacements or MRIs this money could fund.
John Campbell, Edmonton
Edmonton Centre MP Randy Boissonnault appointed federal tourism minister
Edmonton Centre MP Randy Boissonnault has been named federal tourism minister and associate minister of finance.
Edmonton Centre MP Randy Boissonnault has been named federal tourism minister and associate minister of finance.
© Provided by Edmonton Journal Randy Boissonnault speaks outside his campaign office Sept. 22, 2021. Boissonnault was named federal tourism minister and associate minister of finance at a ceremony in Ottawa on Tuesday.
Ashley Joannou
Boissonnault was sworn in Tuesday morning at a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. He is one of nine first-time cabinet ministers to be given a portfolio by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The new cabinet for the minority government contains 38 ministers as well as Trudeau.
Boissonnault was first elected as a federal MP in 2015 before losing his seat in 2019 when the Liberals were shut out of Alberta. During his first time in office he was parliamentary secretary to the Canadian heritage minister and named special advisor to Trudeau on LGBTQ2 issues.
Boissonnault was one of two Liberal MPs elected in Alberta last month.
The last cabinet minister from Alberta was Amarjeet Sohi, who was the federal natural resources minister until he lost his seat in 2019. Sohi was sworn-in as the newest mayor of Edmonton on Tuesday.
UCP POLITICS OF RESENTMENT AND GRIEVANCE WHERE NONE EXISTS EXCEPT AT THE CALGARY PETROLEUM CLUB
Alberta government House Leader Jason Nixon said Tuesday that Boissonnault has a responsibility as the only cabinet minister from Alberta to make sure the province’s voice is heard. At the same time Nixon raised concerns about Trudeau’s decision to appoint long-time environmental activist Steven Guilbeault as Canada’s new environment and climate change minister.
“The very first thing I would do if I was (Boissonnault) is express some concern, frankly, about some of the decisions already made on the environment portfolio and spend a significant amount of my time making sure that I can update the new environment minister on what actually takes place inside Alberta, and the significant economic impact to this country of Alberta’s oil and gas industry,” Nixon said.
Guilbeault, a Quebec MP, co-founded Équiterre, the largest environmental organization in Quebec, has worked for Greenpeace and has been vocally opposed to pipelines.
On Tuesday Premier Jason Kenney called Guilbeault’s appointment “very problematic.”
“His own personal background and track record on these issues, suggests someone who is more an absolutist than a pragmatist when it comes to finding solutions. I hope that I’m wrong about that,” Kenney said.
“… I think given Mr. Guilbeault’s background it’s important for him to send a signal that he doesn’t see the Government of Canada as a special interest group to impose a radical agenda that would lead to mass unemployment.”
On Tuesday, NDP Opposition Leader Notley said she shares some of the concerns about Guilbeault’s historical positions, including on pipelines. She said if the government wants to stand up for Alberta, someone should be taking part in the international COP26 climate summit that begins next week.
“Big decisions are being taken. Alberta’s reputation is at stake. There are many arguments to make about the province, relationships need to be built. Instead, they’re hiding,” she said.
Kenney has said the government won’t be travelling except in cases that are “absolutely essential” while the province is still dealing with the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ajoannou@postmedia.com
twitter.com/ashleyjoannou
Boissonnault was sworn in Tuesday morning at a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. He is one of nine first-time cabinet ministers to be given a portfolio by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The new cabinet for the minority government contains 38 ministers as well as Trudeau.
Boissonnault was first elected as a federal MP in 2015 before losing his seat in 2019 when the Liberals were shut out of Alberta. During his first time in office he was parliamentary secretary to the Canadian heritage minister and named special advisor to Trudeau on LGBTQ2 issues.
Boissonnault was one of two Liberal MPs elected in Alberta last month.
The last cabinet minister from Alberta was Amarjeet Sohi, who was the federal natural resources minister until he lost his seat in 2019. Sohi was sworn-in as the newest mayor of Edmonton on Tuesday.
UCP POLITICS OF RESENTMENT AND GRIEVANCE WHERE NONE EXISTS EXCEPT AT THE CALGARY PETROLEUM CLUB
Alberta government House Leader Jason Nixon said Tuesday that Boissonnault has a responsibility as the only cabinet minister from Alberta to make sure the province’s voice is heard. At the same time Nixon raised concerns about Trudeau’s decision to appoint long-time environmental activist Steven Guilbeault as Canada’s new environment and climate change minister.
“The very first thing I would do if I was (Boissonnault) is express some concern, frankly, about some of the decisions already made on the environment portfolio and spend a significant amount of my time making sure that I can update the new environment minister on what actually takes place inside Alberta, and the significant economic impact to this country of Alberta’s oil and gas industry,” Nixon said.
Guilbeault, a Quebec MP, co-founded Équiterre, the largest environmental organization in Quebec, has worked for Greenpeace and has been vocally opposed to pipelines.
On Tuesday Premier Jason Kenney called Guilbeault’s appointment “very problematic.”
“His own personal background and track record on these issues, suggests someone who is more an absolutist than a pragmatist when it comes to finding solutions. I hope that I’m wrong about that,” Kenney said.
“… I think given Mr. Guilbeault’s background it’s important for him to send a signal that he doesn’t see the Government of Canada as a special interest group to impose a radical agenda that would lead to mass unemployment.”
On Tuesday, NDP Opposition Leader Notley said she shares some of the concerns about Guilbeault’s historical positions, including on pipelines. She said if the government wants to stand up for Alberta, someone should be taking part in the international COP26 climate summit that begins next week.
“Big decisions are being taken. Alberta’s reputation is at stake. There are many arguments to make about the province, relationships need to be built. Instead, they’re hiding,” she said.
Kenney has said the government won’t be travelling except in cases that are “absolutely essential” while the province is still dealing with the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ajoannou@postmedia.com
twitter.com/ashleyjoannou
How Canada can leave 83 per cent of its oil in the ground and build strong new economies
Emily Eaton, Associate professor, Department of Geography & Environmental Studies, University of Regina
Burning coal, oil and natural gas accounts for nearly 90 per cent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions. If we are to have a 50 per cent chance of limiting global warming to 1.5 C, more than 83 per cent of Canada’s oil reserves must stay underground.
Yet the newly re-elected Liberal government, which has put climate change policy at the centre of its agenda, is planning a long life for fossil fuels. Instead of keeping them in ground, the Liberals have committed to capping and reducing emissions from the sector and then offsetting any remaining emissions by 2050.
This would allow an indefinite future for fossil fuel production in Canada. It would require massive public investments in carbon capture and storage and create dubious accounting schemes that would move emissions off the books but not stop them from being produced
No future for Canada’s oil
Much of Canada’s oil must stay in the ground because Canadian oil is harder to reach — most of it is found in oilsands in northern Alberta, making it hard to extract, process and transport — and heavier than the light sweet crudes being produced in places like the Middle East. On a per barrel basis, Canadian oil produces more greenhouse gas emissions, costs more to extract and fetches a lower price on international markets.
In an era of climate action, Canada is attempting to keep its industry, which accounts for roughly five per cent of the country’s GDP, afloat through huge public subsidies estimated at between $2 billion and $63 billion per year. But the mirage of net-zero oil production is blind to the full life cycle of oil-related carbon emissions — it does not consider the emissions produced by consuming oil and gas, only those associated with producing the oil.
Read more: Climate change: ditch 90% of world's coal and 60% of oil and gas to limit warming to 1.5°C – experts
The oil and gas that is produced in Canada will be burned domestically and internationally in combustion engines and gas-fired power plants. These “scope 3” emissions, which can account for upwards of 90 per cent of the emissions associated with the complete life cycle of oil and gas, will no longer be tolerated in jurisdictions around the world trying to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to zero.
Transition takes time
Phasing out fossil fuels does not mean turning off the tap tomorrow. It does mean that today’s production is the peak, and that from here on out extraction and infrastructure must decline over time, reaching close to zero production by mid-century.
What would the phase out look like?
There is significant debate about what an orderly phase out of oil and gas could look like. Some suggest the industries should be nationalized, so as to stop their powerful tactics of denial and delay. In this scenario Crown corporations would preside over the wind-down, shuttering the most costly and emissions-intensive production first, and investing the proceeds of oil production in the remediation and reclamation of oil infrastructure sites.
Over time, the public corporations would transition from extracting oil and gas to cleaning up oil wells, mine sites and pipelines, keeping fossil fuel workers employed using their existing skill sets.
A recent study looked at how California might limit fossil fuel production to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. When the state stopped approving new permits for oil wells, the natural rates of depletion of existing wells would cut production 70 per cent by 2030 and substantially lower greenhouse gas emissions globally.
Cleaning up the mess
Perhaps the most significant challenge in winding down the industry is how to clean up its vast infrastructure while ensuring that the public is not left to pay for it. Oil and gas companies often lease land for their infrastructure or to access their mineral rights where the surface is already being used for other purposes, such as farming and ranching, parks or private dwelling.
My research on rural oil-producing communities in Saskatchewan regularly turned up disgruntled landholders who were dealing with unremediated well and battery sites, and small pipelines. This infrastructure can leak oil, gas and salt water, affecting crops, emitting potent greenhouse gases and contaminating surface and ground water.
Read more: The growing cost to clean up abandoned and orphaned wells
The number of inactive wells — wells that are not producing oil and need to be cleaned up — has grown precipitously in the past decade, and municipalities and landowners are complaining of unpaid property taxes and surface leases.
The Alberta Liabilities Disclosure Project highlights that the liabilities of the Alberta industry alone have been estimated at $58 billion to $260 billion. With only $1.5 billion held in securities, governments need to plan now for how they will recover the cleanup bill.
Governments could create public reclamation trusts, funded by increased oil and gas securities, royalties and taxes, that would employ oil and gas workers to clean up the industry’s infrastructure. By remediating the land they would be building the groundwork needed for the next economies.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Emily Eaton receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and is part of the Corporate Mapping Project, a research and public engagement project investigating the power of the fossil fuel industry in Western Canada, led by the University of Victoria, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (BC and Saskatchewan Offices) and Parkland Institute. She is affiliated with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, SaskForward, the Treaty Land Sharing Network, and is active in other social and ecological justice causes.
Emily Eaton, Associate professor, Department of Geography & Environmental Studies, University of Regina
Burning coal, oil and natural gas accounts for nearly 90 per cent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions. If we are to have a 50 per cent chance of limiting global warming to 1.5 C, more than 83 per cent of Canada’s oil reserves must stay underground.
Yet the newly re-elected Liberal government, which has put climate change policy at the centre of its agenda, is planning a long life for fossil fuels. Instead of keeping them in ground, the Liberals have committed to capping and reducing emissions from the sector and then offsetting any remaining emissions by 2050.
This would allow an indefinite future for fossil fuel production in Canada. It would require massive public investments in carbon capture and storage and create dubious accounting schemes that would move emissions off the books but not stop them from being produced
.
© THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh Pumpjacks draw oil out of the ground in a canola field near Olds, Alta.
Through the Corporate Mapping Project, my colleagues and I have been investigating the power and influence of the fossil fuel industry in Western Canada. This research shows that the industry only survives the politics of the climate crisis if it convinces politicians that net-zero will work and a future without fossil fuels is especially bleak.
But keeping 83 per cent of Canada’s oil in the ground doesn’t mean turning the tap off over night. It means winding down the industry using our skilled trades while also building out new lines of work that will remediate the land and focus on taking care of one another.
Through the Corporate Mapping Project, my colleagues and I have been investigating the power and influence of the fossil fuel industry in Western Canada. This research shows that the industry only survives the politics of the climate crisis if it convinces politicians that net-zero will work and a future without fossil fuels is especially bleak.
But keeping 83 per cent of Canada’s oil in the ground doesn’t mean turning the tap off over night. It means winding down the industry using our skilled trades while also building out new lines of work that will remediate the land and focus on taking care of one another.
No future for Canada’s oil
Much of Canada’s oil must stay in the ground because Canadian oil is harder to reach — most of it is found in oilsands in northern Alberta, making it hard to extract, process and transport — and heavier than the light sweet crudes being produced in places like the Middle East. On a per barrel basis, Canadian oil produces more greenhouse gas emissions, costs more to extract and fetches a lower price on international markets.
In an era of climate action, Canada is attempting to keep its industry, which accounts for roughly five per cent of the country’s GDP, afloat through huge public subsidies estimated at between $2 billion and $63 billion per year. But the mirage of net-zero oil production is blind to the full life cycle of oil-related carbon emissions — it does not consider the emissions produced by consuming oil and gas, only those associated with producing the oil.
Read more: Climate change: ditch 90% of world's coal and 60% of oil and gas to limit warming to 1.5°C – experts
The oil and gas that is produced in Canada will be burned domestically and internationally in combustion engines and gas-fired power plants. These “scope 3” emissions, which can account for upwards of 90 per cent of the emissions associated with the complete life cycle of oil and gas, will no longer be tolerated in jurisdictions around the world trying to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to zero.
Transition takes time
Phasing out fossil fuels does not mean turning off the tap tomorrow. It does mean that today’s production is the peak, and that from here on out extraction and infrastructure must decline over time, reaching close to zero production by mid-century.
© THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted Canada’s nursing shortage. With an aging population the country will need more personal support workers, nurses and other health-care professionals.
This leaves time to plan appropriately and support fossil fuel workers and their communities in an orderly transition. If we start now, we have time to wind down one part of our economies while ratcheting up others like renewable energies, environmental remediation, energy efficient housing and low carbon work in the caring professions, including elder and child care, health care and education.
In fact for every dollar spent, the number of direct and indirect jobs created in these sectors far exceeds those in oil and gas extraction.
This leaves time to plan appropriately and support fossil fuel workers and their communities in an orderly transition. If we start now, we have time to wind down one part of our economies while ratcheting up others like renewable energies, environmental remediation, energy efficient housing and low carbon work in the caring professions, including elder and child care, health care and education.
In fact for every dollar spent, the number of direct and indirect jobs created in these sectors far exceeds those in oil and gas extraction.
© (Winding Down BC’s Fossil Fuel Industries, 2020/Corporate Mapping Project) Direct and indirect jobs in British Columbia per $1 million of output. Not all investments are equal. Oil and gas produces relatively few jobs.
Some economies will be disproportionately affected — Western Canada and Newfoundland will feel the brunt of the effects. They — and rural areas — will need more support and attention.
Some economies will be disproportionately affected — Western Canada and Newfoundland will feel the brunt of the effects. They — and rural areas — will need more support and attention.
What would the phase out look like?
There is significant debate about what an orderly phase out of oil and gas could look like. Some suggest the industries should be nationalized, so as to stop their powerful tactics of denial and delay. In this scenario Crown corporations would preside over the wind-down, shuttering the most costly and emissions-intensive production first, and investing the proceeds of oil production in the remediation and reclamation of oil infrastructure sites.
Over time, the public corporations would transition from extracting oil and gas to cleaning up oil wells, mine sites and pipelines, keeping fossil fuel workers employed using their existing skill sets.
A recent study looked at how California might limit fossil fuel production to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. When the state stopped approving new permits for oil wells, the natural rates of depletion of existing wells would cut production 70 per cent by 2030 and substantially lower greenhouse gas emissions globally.
Cleaning up the mess
Perhaps the most significant challenge in winding down the industry is how to clean up its vast infrastructure while ensuring that the public is not left to pay for it. Oil and gas companies often lease land for their infrastructure or to access their mineral rights where the surface is already being used for other purposes, such as farming and ranching, parks or private dwelling.
My research on rural oil-producing communities in Saskatchewan regularly turned up disgruntled landholders who were dealing with unremediated well and battery sites, and small pipelines. This infrastructure can leak oil, gas and salt water, affecting crops, emitting potent greenhouse gases and contaminating surface and ground water.
Read more: The growing cost to clean up abandoned and orphaned wells
The number of inactive wells — wells that are not producing oil and need to be cleaned up — has grown precipitously in the past decade, and municipalities and landowners are complaining of unpaid property taxes and surface leases.
The Alberta Liabilities Disclosure Project highlights that the liabilities of the Alberta industry alone have been estimated at $58 billion to $260 billion. With only $1.5 billion held in securities, governments need to plan now for how they will recover the cleanup bill.
Governments could create public reclamation trusts, funded by increased oil and gas securities, royalties and taxes, that would employ oil and gas workers to clean up the industry’s infrastructure. By remediating the land they would be building the groundwork needed for the next economies.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Emily Eaton receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and is part of the Corporate Mapping Project, a research and public engagement project investigating the power of the fossil fuel industry in Western Canada, led by the University of Victoria, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (BC and Saskatchewan Offices) and Parkland Institute. She is affiliated with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, SaskForward, the Treaty Land Sharing Network, and is active in other social and ecological justice causes.
CANADA
Cabinet shuffle signals support for climate, not oil and gas
Justin Trudeau’s new cabinet signals strong support for climate policy but may not be well-received in Alberta, says a political science professor.
Former minister of environment and climate change Jonathan Wilkinson is now minister of natural resources and long-time environmentalist Steven Guilbeault is taking over as environment minister.
These appointments signal environment and climate change are top priorities for the federal government, and “there will not be huge attention to the kinds of regional and industry-related concerns that Alberta has been putting forward,” says Lisa Young, a professor of political science at the University of Calgary.
“Seeing that natural resources portfolio go to someone who's moved from the environment (post), somebody who's not from Western Canada, I think sends a signal,” she said.
While Wilkinson’s appointment doesn’t signal support for “traditional oil and gas industry in Alberta,” Young says it does indicate support for an energy transition.
“It's not going to be seen as being conciliatory toward Alberta or the government of Alberta, but that doesn't mean that it's not in Alberta's best interest,” she said.
After 30 years of fighting climate change outside of government, I am humbled and I am honoured to be given the opportunity to accelerate our fight against climate change as Canada’s new Minister of Environment and Climate Change. pic.twitter.com/vU6zSSdgcK— Steven Guilbeault (@s_guilbeault)
Guilbeault’s reception in his new role could prove similar to the abusive reaction Catherine McKenna received when she was appointed environment minister in 2015, Young said.
Because of Guilbeault’s dedication to the climate file both inside and outside of politics and his roots in Quebec, she anticipates conservative circles in Alberta may not take kindly to his appointment.
“We're certainly in a situation where Quebec commitments around climate change and environmental action are seen as antithetical to Alberta's interests in some respects, so you'll see a reaction based on that,” said Young.
Guilbeault was a founding member of Équiterre, a prominent Quebec conservation group, and was involved with the Greenpeace Quebec chapter for 10 years.
According to Colleen Thorpe, executive director of Équiterre, Guilbeault “is very knowledgeable on all of the environmental issues,” particularly the files related to fossil fuel development and transportation. She says his ability to deal with complex issues and “rally people who have different opinions” will serve him well in trying to bring about the “profound changes” necessary to address climate change.
“The bar is high for change, and we're counting on him to meet the bar,” said Thorpe.
Thorpe notes that Équiterre will continue to demand “important climate action” from the government to address the crisis.
A poll commissioned by the Pembina Institute from earlier this year found two-thirds of Albertans support reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, indicating an appetite for climate action.
If the Alberta government wants to respond to the demand indicated by this poll, then the new environment minister and natural resources minister will be partners in achieving that, said Isabelle Turcotte, director of federal policy at the Pembina Institute.
Turcotte said, to her, these new appointments signal the federal government means business when it comes to tackling emissions from the oil and gas and transportation sectors.
“We know that these two sectors over the last decade, since 2005 — our baseline year for our 2030 target under Paris — these emissions have increased significantly, and they've offset the progress we've made in other sectors,” she said. “If we do not reverse this trend, Canada does not stand a chance of changing its narrative on climate and really being seen as a leader.”
To advance the federal government’s promises to ensure the oil and gas sector reaches net-zero emissions by 2050, achieve 100 per cent electric vehicle sales by 2035, and progress on other pledges, a pan-governmental approach will be necessary, said Sabaa Khan, director for the climate solutions portfolio at the David Suzuki Foundation.
“Climate change (and) biodiversity loss (are) not issues that remain within the environmental portfolio, they cut across all government departments,” said Khan. “So I think it is a positive sign that we're seeing the appointment of individuals (who) have that expertise and … can hopefully influence the other departments.”It’s been an honour to be at the heart of developing Canada’s strengthened climate plan and other transformational climate policies in Canada. I am honoured to be taking on the challenge and opportunity of implementing those policies as Canada’s new Minister of Natural Resources. pic.twitter.com/FXqyfMXqof— Jonathan Wilkinson
Natasha Bulowski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada's National Observer
Cabinet shuffle signals support for climate, not oil and gas
Justin Trudeau’s new cabinet signals strong support for climate policy but may not be well-received in Alberta, says a political science professor.
Former minister of environment and climate change Jonathan Wilkinson is now minister of natural resources and long-time environmentalist Steven Guilbeault is taking over as environment minister.
These appointments signal environment and climate change are top priorities for the federal government, and “there will not be huge attention to the kinds of regional and industry-related concerns that Alberta has been putting forward,” says Lisa Young, a professor of political science at the University of Calgary.
“Seeing that natural resources portfolio go to someone who's moved from the environment (post), somebody who's not from Western Canada, I think sends a signal,” she said.
While Wilkinson’s appointment doesn’t signal support for “traditional oil and gas industry in Alberta,” Young says it does indicate support for an energy transition.
“It's not going to be seen as being conciliatory toward Alberta or the government of Alberta, but that doesn't mean that it's not in Alberta's best interest,” she said.
After 30 years of fighting climate change outside of government, I am humbled and I am honoured to be given the opportunity to accelerate our fight against climate change as Canada’s new Minister of Environment and Climate Change. pic.twitter.com/vU6zSSdgcK— Steven Guilbeault (@s_guilbeault)
Guilbeault’s reception in his new role could prove similar to the abusive reaction Catherine McKenna received when she was appointed environment minister in 2015, Young said.
Because of Guilbeault’s dedication to the climate file both inside and outside of politics and his roots in Quebec, she anticipates conservative circles in Alberta may not take kindly to his appointment.
“We're certainly in a situation where Quebec commitments around climate change and environmental action are seen as antithetical to Alberta's interests in some respects, so you'll see a reaction based on that,” said Young.
Guilbeault was a founding member of Équiterre, a prominent Quebec conservation group, and was involved with the Greenpeace Quebec chapter for 10 years.
According to Colleen Thorpe, executive director of Équiterre, Guilbeault “is very knowledgeable on all of the environmental issues,” particularly the files related to fossil fuel development and transportation. She says his ability to deal with complex issues and “rally people who have different opinions” will serve him well in trying to bring about the “profound changes” necessary to address climate change.
“The bar is high for change, and we're counting on him to meet the bar,” said Thorpe.
Thorpe notes that Équiterre will continue to demand “important climate action” from the government to address the crisis.
A poll commissioned by the Pembina Institute from earlier this year found two-thirds of Albertans support reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, indicating an appetite for climate action.
If the Alberta government wants to respond to the demand indicated by this poll, then the new environment minister and natural resources minister will be partners in achieving that, said Isabelle Turcotte, director of federal policy at the Pembina Institute.
Turcotte said, to her, these new appointments signal the federal government means business when it comes to tackling emissions from the oil and gas and transportation sectors.
“We know that these two sectors over the last decade, since 2005 — our baseline year for our 2030 target under Paris — these emissions have increased significantly, and they've offset the progress we've made in other sectors,” she said. “If we do not reverse this trend, Canada does not stand a chance of changing its narrative on climate and really being seen as a leader.”
To advance the federal government’s promises to ensure the oil and gas sector reaches net-zero emissions by 2050, achieve 100 per cent electric vehicle sales by 2035, and progress on other pledges, a pan-governmental approach will be necessary, said Sabaa Khan, director for the climate solutions portfolio at the David Suzuki Foundation.
“Climate change (and) biodiversity loss (are) not issues that remain within the environmental portfolio, they cut across all government departments,” said Khan. “So I think it is a positive sign that we're seeing the appointment of individuals (who) have that expertise and … can hopefully influence the other departments.”It’s been an honour to be at the heart of developing Canada’s strengthened climate plan and other transformational climate policies in Canada. I am honoured to be taking on the challenge and opportunity of implementing those policies as Canada’s new Minister of Natural Resources. pic.twitter.com/FXqyfMXqof— Jonathan Wilkinson
Natasha Bulowski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada's National Observer
CANADA
Business, labour groups urge new cabinet to get to work on priority issues
TORONTO — Business and labour groups are urging the new federal cabinet to get to work on priority economic issues like the skilled labour shortage, supply chain issues, fixing employment insurance, ensuring an equitable recovery, and laying out a broad vision for growth
Business, labour groups urge new cabinet to get to work on priority issues
TORONTO — Business and labour groups are urging the new federal cabinet to get to work on priority economic issues like the skilled labour shortage, supply chain issues, fixing employment insurance, ensuring an equitable recovery, and laying out a broad vision for growth
.
© Provided by The Canadian Press
The challenges will be taken on by a cabinet that includes consistency in key economic roles such as Chrystia Freeland as finance minister and François-Philippe Champagne in innovation and industry, as well as new appointments including Seamus O’Regan as minster of labour, Dominic LeBlanc taking on infrastructue, and economic development being added to Mary Ng's portfolio.
The economy, however, didn't seem to be front and centre as the new cabinet was rolled out Tuesday, said Robert Asselin, senior vice-president of policy at the Business Council of Canada.
“Given all the short-term challenges on the economy, rising inflation, lot of pressure points on the supply side, it didn’t come through as something that was top of mind.”
He said that labour shortages are a key area of concern for Canadian executives and that it will require co-ordination across numerous ministries to ensure there's enough skilled people in the right industries.
“That requires a private-public partnership. You need to re-skill a lot of people, you need to upskill a lot of people, you need to transfer people from certain sectors to others very fast, otherwise it’s going to choke the growth of a lot of companies.”
Perrin Beatty, chief executive of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said it was good to see the consistency in the finance and industry roles, noting Freeland's track record and that Champagne strong understanding of business.
He said that one of the most notable appointments was Mélanie Joly as minister of foreign affairs, which comes as Canada works through issues with the U.S. on the auto sector and pipelines and with China on issues like Huawei and trade.
“It is a very hot portfolio to be taking over at the present time, when we have difficult relationships with our two major trading partners...these are very important files with very significant economic implications, quite apart from the political relationships.”
Beatty said he hopes to see strong signals in the throne speech that the economy is a priority for the government, as strong growth will help pay for other priority areas like responding to climate change.
Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, said that the government must prioritize an equitable recovery as women have been disproportionally impacted by the economic crisis that came with the pandemic.
She said the most immediate priority though is extending support for the 800,000 workers who have been relying on the COVID-19 employment insurance program that the government announced that week it isn't extending.
“We know those workers are still struggling, because even though jobs have come back, not all the jobs have come back."
She said many who have gone back to work face precarious and part-time work, and she looks forward to working with O’Regan as labour minister to improve conditions.
“We really have a big agenda for this new government to tackle right off the hop, and so we really want to get that work started as quickly as possible.”
Rebekah Young, director of fiscal and provincial economics at Scotiabank, said she will also be watching the EI reforms, both for how they change the situation for workers and how the government plans to pay for it.
She said it's clear the current system is too narrow to deal with downturns, but that as the government looks to extend coverage to include the gig economy and elsewhere, it will be important to see if they expect business to cover more.
Elliot Hughes, a senior adviser at Summa Strategies, said that he will be following Minister Ng's progress closely, since in addition to economic development she is also charged with international trade, export promotion and small business.
"That’s a really important piece to watch.”
Hughes said he'll also be watching to see what comes from the various ministers who have had regional economic development added to their portfolio. He said it will be important for the ministers to engage at the grassroots level and become advocates for businesses on the ground.
“They’re only really good if they can be double-ended in a sense, so not just top-down but also bottom up.”
Elsewhere, Hughes said he'll be looking for a renewed innovation strategy, as well as new overall strategy for the country's economy.
“As we emerge from COVID, it is high time the government turn to outlining, and describing, and putting into place a pretty clear, coherent, long-term economic vision.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 26, 2021.
Ian Bickis, The Canadian Press
The challenges will be taken on by a cabinet that includes consistency in key economic roles such as Chrystia Freeland as finance minister and François-Philippe Champagne in innovation and industry, as well as new appointments including Seamus O’Regan as minster of labour, Dominic LeBlanc taking on infrastructue, and economic development being added to Mary Ng's portfolio.
The economy, however, didn't seem to be front and centre as the new cabinet was rolled out Tuesday, said Robert Asselin, senior vice-president of policy at the Business Council of Canada.
“Given all the short-term challenges on the economy, rising inflation, lot of pressure points on the supply side, it didn’t come through as something that was top of mind.”
He said that labour shortages are a key area of concern for Canadian executives and that it will require co-ordination across numerous ministries to ensure there's enough skilled people in the right industries.
“That requires a private-public partnership. You need to re-skill a lot of people, you need to upskill a lot of people, you need to transfer people from certain sectors to others very fast, otherwise it’s going to choke the growth of a lot of companies.”
Perrin Beatty, chief executive of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said it was good to see the consistency in the finance and industry roles, noting Freeland's track record and that Champagne strong understanding of business.
He said that one of the most notable appointments was Mélanie Joly as minister of foreign affairs, which comes as Canada works through issues with the U.S. on the auto sector and pipelines and with China on issues like Huawei and trade.
“It is a very hot portfolio to be taking over at the present time, when we have difficult relationships with our two major trading partners...these are very important files with very significant economic implications, quite apart from the political relationships.”
Beatty said he hopes to see strong signals in the throne speech that the economy is a priority for the government, as strong growth will help pay for other priority areas like responding to climate change.
Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, said that the government must prioritize an equitable recovery as women have been disproportionally impacted by the economic crisis that came with the pandemic.
She said the most immediate priority though is extending support for the 800,000 workers who have been relying on the COVID-19 employment insurance program that the government announced that week it isn't extending.
“We know those workers are still struggling, because even though jobs have come back, not all the jobs have come back."
She said many who have gone back to work face precarious and part-time work, and she looks forward to working with O’Regan as labour minister to improve conditions.
“We really have a big agenda for this new government to tackle right off the hop, and so we really want to get that work started as quickly as possible.”
Rebekah Young, director of fiscal and provincial economics at Scotiabank, said she will also be watching the EI reforms, both for how they change the situation for workers and how the government plans to pay for it.
She said it's clear the current system is too narrow to deal with downturns, but that as the government looks to extend coverage to include the gig economy and elsewhere, it will be important to see if they expect business to cover more.
Elliot Hughes, a senior adviser at Summa Strategies, said that he will be following Minister Ng's progress closely, since in addition to economic development she is also charged with international trade, export promotion and small business.
"That’s a really important piece to watch.”
Hughes said he'll also be watching to see what comes from the various ministers who have had regional economic development added to their portfolio. He said it will be important for the ministers to engage at the grassroots level and become advocates for businesses on the ground.
“They’re only really good if they can be double-ended in a sense, so not just top-down but also bottom up.”
Elsewhere, Hughes said he'll be looking for a renewed innovation strategy, as well as new overall strategy for the country's economy.
“As we emerge from COVID, it is high time the government turn to outlining, and describing, and putting into place a pretty clear, coherent, long-term economic vision.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 26, 2021.
Ian Bickis, The Canadian Press
SO MUCH FOR KENNEY'S REFERENDUM
West wants federal support for rail, transport of goods
Western municipalities want Ottawa to better support the transportation of goods across the country, and rail safety, according to a recent report released by local leaders.
The group wants to see improvement in how local impacts of federal decision making are assessed and better supports for local communities as the world transitions to net-zero emissions.
The Canadian Federation of Municipalities Western Economic Solutions Taskforce (WEST) released a report created by local leaders to advocate to the federal government for recognition and support of municipal priorities.
The task force was created to address western issues felt at the federation's table, and to try to find common ground between western communities and the federal government, said WEST co-chair Paul McLauchlin.
“We need to find a way to bridge these issues and try to find common ground for discussions at the federal level as it relates to this western angst,” McLauchlin said.
The group plans to encourage the federal government to establish national utility corridors, and draft a plan for how resources and commodities move through the country.
Often commodities can get bottlenecked in certain areas, such as the port of Vancouver, McLauchlin said.
"We need to be able to get the goods across the country and outside the country, so we need to trade externally and internally," McLauchlin said.
The conversation is more than just a chat about pipelines in the country, but rather about all commodities moving through Canada, including rail, transportation, utilities, and power.
So far the federal government has recognized the need for a national strategy and has invested $1.9 billion to fund strategic investments in transportation country-wide.
Municipalities also want to see improvement in federal impact assessments to federal reviews for projects, by making more predictable timelines, focusing the scope of the projects, and focusing on gathering feedback from only those who are involved.
Right now federal impact assessments — how the federal government gathers information before it moves forward with large projects such as pipelines — need to be made more predictable, the group said in the report, and the government must speed up the process by removing the ability for a time-limit extension.
“Timelines are the biggest conversation. We want to make certainty in the marketplace,” McLauchlin said.
Nobody is negating the need for the impact-assessment process, he said, but getting them done in a timely fashion to encourage investment is important.
Having those who are directly impacted by a project be part of the stakeholder group involved in speaking out on the project is also important, the report said.
“We need to ensure that we're looking at this as the broader picture of public good and public interest, and making sure that they're done quickly and effectively in order to have a more agile regulatory process in the province, because that's what's going to attract investment that's going to attract growth,” McLauchlin said.
The municipalities also want the federal government to improve rail safety across western Canada, as rural communities have hundreds of uncontrolled at-grade rail crossings, the report said.
Every 20 minutes, a train passes through an uncontrolled rail crossing in rural western Canada, and WEST wants to ensure they are safe, and they have the money to maintain the crossings.
When it comes to climate change, WEST wants the federal government to support the energy community as part of the transition to net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions in Canada.
“The role of municipal governments and the direct financial impact of the net-zero transition on municipal revenue must be a central element of the federal government’s Just Transition strategy,” the report read.
Communities that will be impacted by a transition to different energy, that rely heavily on tax revenue from the energy industry, need to be considered and supported as the federal government aims to achieve climate goals.
In response to the recommendations to the federal government, $150 million was set aside in the federal 2019 budget to help fund infrastructure that supports priority projects and economic diversification in impacted communities.
WEST is asking Ottawa to create an Energy Community Infrastructure Fund that will support infrastructure and economic development needs of municipalities in oil-and-gas-producing regions which are expected to experience negative impacts from the transition to net zero.
Some communities in rural Alberta draw a significant amount of their tax revenue from the energy sector and the transition to net zero could have a negative impact on the bottom lines of these municipalities.
McLauchlin said communities need the opportunity to either diversify or backfill for those tax losses, and provide needed supports to communities.
Jennifer Henderson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, St. Albert Gazette
West wants federal support for rail, transport of goods
Western municipalities want Ottawa to better support the transportation of goods across the country, and rail safety, according to a recent report released by local leaders.
The group wants to see improvement in how local impacts of federal decision making are assessed and better supports for local communities as the world transitions to net-zero emissions.
The Canadian Federation of Municipalities Western Economic Solutions Taskforce (WEST) released a report created by local leaders to advocate to the federal government for recognition and support of municipal priorities.
The task force was created to address western issues felt at the federation's table, and to try to find common ground between western communities and the federal government, said WEST co-chair Paul McLauchlin.
“We need to find a way to bridge these issues and try to find common ground for discussions at the federal level as it relates to this western angst,” McLauchlin said.
The group plans to encourage the federal government to establish national utility corridors, and draft a plan for how resources and commodities move through the country.
Often commodities can get bottlenecked in certain areas, such as the port of Vancouver, McLauchlin said.
"We need to be able to get the goods across the country and outside the country, so we need to trade externally and internally," McLauchlin said.
The conversation is more than just a chat about pipelines in the country, but rather about all commodities moving through Canada, including rail, transportation, utilities, and power.
So far the federal government has recognized the need for a national strategy and has invested $1.9 billion to fund strategic investments in transportation country-wide.
Municipalities also want to see improvement in federal impact assessments to federal reviews for projects, by making more predictable timelines, focusing the scope of the projects, and focusing on gathering feedback from only those who are involved.
Right now federal impact assessments — how the federal government gathers information before it moves forward with large projects such as pipelines — need to be made more predictable, the group said in the report, and the government must speed up the process by removing the ability for a time-limit extension.
“Timelines are the biggest conversation. We want to make certainty in the marketplace,” McLauchlin said.
Nobody is negating the need for the impact-assessment process, he said, but getting them done in a timely fashion to encourage investment is important.
Having those who are directly impacted by a project be part of the stakeholder group involved in speaking out on the project is also important, the report said.
“We need to ensure that we're looking at this as the broader picture of public good and public interest, and making sure that they're done quickly and effectively in order to have a more agile regulatory process in the province, because that's what's going to attract investment that's going to attract growth,” McLauchlin said.
The municipalities also want the federal government to improve rail safety across western Canada, as rural communities have hundreds of uncontrolled at-grade rail crossings, the report said.
Every 20 minutes, a train passes through an uncontrolled rail crossing in rural western Canada, and WEST wants to ensure they are safe, and they have the money to maintain the crossings.
When it comes to climate change, WEST wants the federal government to support the energy community as part of the transition to net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions in Canada.
“The role of municipal governments and the direct financial impact of the net-zero transition on municipal revenue must be a central element of the federal government’s Just Transition strategy,” the report read.
Communities that will be impacted by a transition to different energy, that rely heavily on tax revenue from the energy industry, need to be considered and supported as the federal government aims to achieve climate goals.
In response to the recommendations to the federal government, $150 million was set aside in the federal 2019 budget to help fund infrastructure that supports priority projects and economic diversification in impacted communities.
WEST is asking Ottawa to create an Energy Community Infrastructure Fund that will support infrastructure and economic development needs of municipalities in oil-and-gas-producing regions which are expected to experience negative impacts from the transition to net zero.
Some communities in rural Alberta draw a significant amount of their tax revenue from the energy sector and the transition to net zero could have a negative impact on the bottom lines of these municipalities.
McLauchlin said communities need the opportunity to either diversify or backfill for those tax losses, and provide needed supports to communities.
Jennifer Henderson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, St. Albert Gazette
Majority of Albertans votes to scrap equalization payments
Nearly 62 percent of Albertans have voted in support of removing federal equalization payments from Canada's constitution, after Premier Jason Kenney put the issue to a referendum. Kenney says Alberta is getting a raw deal, but he was part of the federal government that agreed to the formula. And the results of this referendum don't change that formula.
THE MAJORITY CAME FROM RED DEER SOUTH, EDMONTON VOTED AGAINST THE EQUALIZATION QUESTION
In Somalia, a rare female artist promotes images of peace
By HASSAN BARISE
Somali artist Sana Ashraf Sharif Muhsin, 21, sits with some of her paintings at her home in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. Among the once-taboo professions emerging from Somalia's decades of conflict and Islamic extremism is the world of arts, and this 21-year-old female painter has faced more opposition than most. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Among the once-taboo professions emerging from Somalia’s decades of conflict and Islamic extremism is the world of arts, and a 21-year-old female painter has faced more opposition than most.
A rare woman artist in the highly conservative Horn of Africa nation, Sana Ashraf Sharif Muhsin lives and works amid the rubble of her uncle’s building that was partially destroyed in Mogadishu’s years of war.
Despite the challenges that include the belief by some Muslims that Islam bars all representations of people, and the search for brushes and other materials for her work, she is optimistic.
“I love my work and believe that I can contribute to the rebuilding and pacifying of my country,” she said.
Sana stands out for breaking the gender barrier to enter a male-dominated profession, according to Abdi Mohamed Shu’ayb, a professor of arts at Somali National University. She is just one of two female artists he knows of in Somalia, with the other in the breakaway region of Somaliland.
And yet Sana is unique “because her artworks capture contemporary life in a positive way and seek to build reconciliation,” he said, calling her a national hero.
Sana, a civil engineering student, began drawing at the age of 8, following in the footsteps of her maternal uncle, Abdikarim Osman Addow, a well-known artist.
“I would use charcoal on all the walls of the house, drawing my vision of the world,” Sana said, laughing. More formal instruction followed, and she eventually assembled a book from her sketches of household items like a shoe or a jug of water.
But as her work brought her more public attention over the years, some tensions followed.
Somali artist Sana Ashraf Sharif Muhsin, 21, works on one of her paintings at her home in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. Among the once-taboo professions emerging from Somalia's decades of conflict and Islamic extremism is the world of arts, and this 21-year-old female painter has faced more opposition than most.
By HASSAN BARISE
Somali artist Sana Ashraf Sharif Muhsin, 21, sits with some of her paintings at her home in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. Among the once-taboo professions emerging from Somalia's decades of conflict and Islamic extremism is the world of arts, and this 21-year-old female painter has faced more opposition than most. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Among the once-taboo professions emerging from Somalia’s decades of conflict and Islamic extremism is the world of arts, and a 21-year-old female painter has faced more opposition than most.
A rare woman artist in the highly conservative Horn of Africa nation, Sana Ashraf Sharif Muhsin lives and works amid the rubble of her uncle’s building that was partially destroyed in Mogadishu’s years of war.
Despite the challenges that include the belief by some Muslims that Islam bars all representations of people, and the search for brushes and other materials for her work, she is optimistic.
“I love my work and believe that I can contribute to the rebuilding and pacifying of my country,” she said.
Sana stands out for breaking the gender barrier to enter a male-dominated profession, according to Abdi Mohamed Shu’ayb, a professor of arts at Somali National University. She is just one of two female artists he knows of in Somalia, with the other in the breakaway region of Somaliland.
And yet Sana is unique “because her artworks capture contemporary life in a positive way and seek to build reconciliation,” he said, calling her a national hero.
Sana, a civil engineering student, began drawing at the age of 8, following in the footsteps of her maternal uncle, Abdikarim Osman Addow, a well-known artist.
“I would use charcoal on all the walls of the house, drawing my vision of the world,” Sana said, laughing. More formal instruction followed, and she eventually assembled a book from her sketches of household items like a shoe or a jug of water.
But as her work brought her more public attention over the years, some tensions followed.
Somali artist Sana Ashraf Sharif Muhsin, 21, works on one of her paintings at her home in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. Among the once-taboo professions emerging from Somalia's decades of conflict and Islamic extremism is the world of arts, and this 21-year-old female painter has faced more opposition than most.
(AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)
“I fear for myself sometimes,” she said, and recalled a confrontation during a recent exhibition at the City University of Mogadishu. A male student began shouting “This is wrong!” and professors tried to calm him, explaining that art is an important part of the world.
Many people in Somalia don’t understand the arts, Sana said, and some even criticize them as disgusting. At exhibitions, she tries to make people understand that art is useful and “a weapon that can be used for many things.”
A teacher once challenged her skills by asking questions and requiring answers in the form of a drawing, she said.
“Everything that’s made is first drawn, and what we’re making is not the dress but something that changes your internal emotions,” Sana said. “Our paintings talk to the people.”
Her work at times explores the social issues roiling Somalia, including a painting of a soldier looking at the ruins of the country’s first parliament building. It reflects the current political clash between the opposition, she said, as national elections are delayed.
Another painting reflects abuses against vulnerable young women “which they cannot even express.” A third shows a woman in the bare-shouldered dress popular in Somalia decades ago before a stricter interpretation of Islam took hold and scholars urged women to wear the hijab.
But Sana also strives for beauty in her work, aware that “we have passed through 30 years of destruction, and the people only see bad things, having in their mind blood and destruction and explosions. ... If you Google Somalia, we don’t have beautiful pictures there, but ugly ones, so I’d like to change all that using my paintings.”
Sana said she hopes to gain further confidence in her work by exhibiting it more widely, beyond events in Somalia and neighboring Kenya.
But finding role models at home for her profession doesn’t come easily.
Sana named several Somali artists whose work she admires, but she knows of no other female ones like herself.
“I fear for myself sometimes,” she said, and recalled a confrontation during a recent exhibition at the City University of Mogadishu. A male student began shouting “This is wrong!” and professors tried to calm him, explaining that art is an important part of the world.
Many people in Somalia don’t understand the arts, Sana said, and some even criticize them as disgusting. At exhibitions, she tries to make people understand that art is useful and “a weapon that can be used for many things.”
A teacher once challenged her skills by asking questions and requiring answers in the form of a drawing, she said.
“Everything that’s made is first drawn, and what we’re making is not the dress but something that changes your internal emotions,” Sana said. “Our paintings talk to the people.”
Her work at times explores the social issues roiling Somalia, including a painting of a soldier looking at the ruins of the country’s first parliament building. It reflects the current political clash between the opposition, she said, as national elections are delayed.
Another painting reflects abuses against vulnerable young women “which they cannot even express.” A third shows a woman in the bare-shouldered dress popular in Somalia decades ago before a stricter interpretation of Islam took hold and scholars urged women to wear the hijab.
But Sana also strives for beauty in her work, aware that “we have passed through 30 years of destruction, and the people only see bad things, having in their mind blood and destruction and explosions. ... If you Google Somalia, we don’t have beautiful pictures there, but ugly ones, so I’d like to change all that using my paintings.”
Sana said she hopes to gain further confidence in her work by exhibiting it more widely, beyond events in Somalia and neighboring Kenya.
But finding role models at home for her profession doesn’t come easily.
Sana named several Somali artists whose work she admires, but she knows of no other female ones like herself.
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