There has recently been a renewed interest in the question of whether the ecological crisis means we need to see (or plan for) a stabilization or even a decline in economic growth. This week there is a major conference on degrowth in Montreal. York University’s Peter Victor has made important contributions to this debate in [...]
De-growth or growth? Maybe we don’t need to figure that out
May 16th, 2012 · Seth Klein · Climate change, Economy, Environment, resources & sustainability
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Overcoming climate despair: We are the U-turn generation
May 12th, 2012 · Seth Klein · Climate change
This week, federal Environment Commissioner Scott Vaughan released a disheartening report, slamming the Harper government for having no plan to meet is own 2020 greenhouse gas emission reduction targets (targets that are already completely inadequate). It’s not surprising news, but adds to the feelings of desperation harbored by many. Those of us concerned about climate [...]
BC’s P3s promise “eye-watering” profits” for private investors. And more of them coming
May 9th, 2012 · Keith Reynolds · Health care, Privatization, P3s & public services
Two stories that came out on the same day last week should raise concerns about where the BC government continues to go with public private partnerships (P3s). The government announced it was going to build two hospitals on Vancouver Island in Campbell River and in the Comox Valley. Premier Clark then told the Campbell River [...]
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Poverty Reduction: Even Alberta joins the fold. When will BC?
April 29th, 2012 · Seth Klein · Children & youth, Poverty, inequality & welfare
With Alison Redford’s big re-election as Alberta premier last week, Alberta will now join the ranks of provinces with a comprehensive poverty reduction plan. This will leave BC and Saskatchewan as the only jurisdictions in Canada without a provincial or territorial plan. The Alberta plan may prove to be the most ambitious to date. On [...]
Climate change will shape BC in 2035, one way or another
April 28th, 2012 · Marc Lee · Climate change, Energy, Environment, resources & sustainability
I have an oped in today’s Vancouver Sun as part of its BC in 2035 series. Climate change will shape BC in 2035, one way or another We live on a different planet from the one our parents grew up on, says environmentalist Bill McKibben. Climate change from our rampant combustion of fossil fuels has pushed the [...]
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Hail to the Chief? Or Bailing on the Chief?
April 18th, 2012 · Ben Parfitt · Economy, Employment & labour, Environment, resources & sustainability, Municipalities
A leaked provincial Cabinet document indicates that the provincial government is contemplating “suspending” the powers of one of its most powerful public servants in order to expedite a controversial logging program that has raised alarm bells in the professional forestry community. The document leaked late Tuesday afternoon, is the second confidential report in as many [...]
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Environmental Assessment
April 18th, 2012 · Marvin Shaffer · Environment, resources & sustainability
It’s hard not to sympathize with those who want to drastically change provincial and federal government environmental assessment processes. You only have to suffer through one or two, witnessing seemingly endless meetings, memos, draft terms of reference, real terms of reference, draft reports, real reports, and the obligatory sprinkling of highly structured consultations — all [...]
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And they all fall down: The day of reckoning in B.C.’s over-cut interior forests looms
April 18th, 2012 · Ben Parfitt · Economy, Employment & labour, Environment, resources & sustainability, First Nations & Aboriginal, Municipalities
For more than a quarter century, logging companies at the government’s blessing have been on a tear through British Columbia’s expansive interior forests. In the name of “salvaging” economic value from forests attacked by mountain pine beetles, beginning with a smaller outbreak centered in the Williams Lake area in the 1980s and followed by the [...]
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Canadians want higher taxes from the federal budget
March 29th, 2012 · Iglika Ivanova · Poverty, inequality & welfare, Privatization, P3s & public services, Taxes
The Globe and Mail released the results of a new poll they conducted on what Canadian priorities are for the upcoming budget. The findings seem to have stumped at least some of the journalists, judging by their account: What stood out most was the across-the-board call for higher taxes. Yes, you read that right. Respondents [...]
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Log exports: waving the white flag of economic defeat
March 28th, 2012 · Ben Parfitt · Employment & labour, Environment, resources & sustainability
Hi folks — I recently wrote this op ed for the Times Colonist on raw log exports and wanted to share it here too. We’re told there’s no alternative to sending our unprocessed wood out of the country; but some in the industry beg to differ… As more and more raw, unprocessed logs leave British [...]
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