Though not a true believer myself, I can think of a number of positive impacts from the 2010 Olympics. There was, without question, a community spirit seldom if ever seen in Vancouver. There was a renewed commitment to excellence in sport. However, one thing I couldn’t imagine anyone suggesting is that it was a “rousing [...]
Marvin Shaffer’s Blog Posts
Marvin Shaffer is a consulting economist specializing in energy, transportation and natural resource economics. He is also an adjunct professor in the Public Policy Masters Program at SFU, where he teaches a course on benefit-cost analysis. Recent publications include Lost in Transmission, a three part critique of the British Columbia Energy Plan. More about Marvin on the SFU website .
Olympics – ‘Rousing Financial Success’?
December 19th, 2010 · Marvin Shaffer · 2 Comments · Economy
Tags: Olympics
Feds got it right on Prosperity
November 8th, 2010 · Marvin Shaffer · Comments Off · Economy, Environment, resources & sustainability
The federal government made the right decision in rejecting the Prosperity mine proposal. The project would have had significant adverse environmental effects, and that for some is reason enough to deny approval. But even if one were willing to accept the environmental impacts because of the economic benefits the project would have offered, it is [...]
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HST and the NDP
August 21st, 2010 · Marvin Shaffer · 3 Comments · Economy, Provincial budget & finance
Let’s face it. You can’t blame the NDP or anyone else enjoying the drubbing the Liberals are getting from Bill Vander Zalm and co. It is incredibly fun to watch. There is no question that the drubbing is well deserved. Whatever one thinks of the merits of an HST versus the PST it replaced, it [...]
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‘Prosperity’ Mine
July 30th, 2010 · Marvin Shaffer · Comments Off · Economy, Energy
So there I was in Durham near Newcastle, enjoying a pint in a very historic and charming little pub called the Dun Cow (where do the Brits come up with these names). I was looking at some old photos of hard working folks coming out of the mines and couldn’t help but think of B.C.’s [...]
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Buying off industry
May 27th, 2010 · Marvin Shaffer · 3 Comments · Energy
At first glance, the response of the forest sector and other large energy users to the province’s Clean Energy Act was surprising. Here is an Act that will force BC Hydro to waste literally billions of dollars to create an artificial demand for private power. It will without question drive up BC Hydro’s rates far more [...]
Tags: BC Hydro·Clean Energy Act·IPPs
The Clean Energy Act – adding insult to injury
April 29th, 2010 · Marvin Shaffer · 2 Comments · Energy
I don’t follow the provincial legislature closely enough to judge whether the proposed Clean Energy Act is the worst legislation the Liberals have introduced since first being elected, but it has to be a front runner. The first objective listed in the Act is the government’s misdirected requirement for BC Hydro to be self-sufficient, with all of [...]
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Site C
April 19th, 2010 · Marvin Shaffer · Comments Off · Energy
I recall talking to a senior BC Hydro planner a number of years ago who mapped out a very sensible way to develop the BC Hydro system. Retain the Burrard gas-fired thermal power plant as a back-up for extreme drought, when electricity supply at the hydro facilities on the Peace and Columbia river systems is [...]
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More Please!!!
March 9th, 2010 · Marvin Shaffer · 2 Comments · Economy, Energy
Every now and again you read something so outrageous you have to laugh. So it is with the report recently released by BC Citizens for Clean Energy: A Triple Legacy for Future Generations. The essence of this lobby group’s proposal is that the government should develop an export policy for green energy targeting up to [...]
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Costs do matter!
March 1st, 2010 · Marvin Shaffer · 3 Comments · Economy
Admittedly, I’ve been over 4000 kilometres away from the frenzy on Robson Street for the last two weeks and more. Nevertheless, I still can’t buy into the new found enthusiasm for the Olympics. True, the men’s hockey final was spectacular, and I enjoyed it as much as anyone, celebrating with a margarita at a favourite [...]
Tags: Olympics
Economic Impacts !?@#
January 20th, 2010 · Marvin Shaffer · 2 Comments · Economy, Energy
There isn’t a reputable economist that I know, nor a student in my benefit-cost class at SFU (that wants to pass) that does not understand the difference between economic impacts and real economic benefits. Nevertheless, industry lobbyists and all-too-many government officials never cease to point to economic impacts — the number of jobs a project [...]
