Archive
The best of all policies: my wish for the ideal platform
Sep 2, 2015
I’m often asked which opposition party, with a potential to win the election, has the better platform when it comes to tackling climate change and inequality – the two great inconvenient truths of our time, and the focus of much of our work at CCPA. (I’m leaving out from this comparison the Conservatives, who have thus… View Article
3 worrisome facts about Canada’s economy beyond the drop in GDP
Sep 1, 2015
The much anticipated quarterly GDP numbers are out, and StatsCan confirmed what 79% of Canadians already felt to be the case — Canada’s economy is in decline. A drop in economic activity of 0.1% in the second quarter of 2015 officially tipped Canada in recession territory (after a drop of 0.2% in the first quarter). The… View Article
The diminishing of access to government information – and some things to do about it
Sep 1, 2015
Freedom of Information legislation (FOI), or Access to Information (ATI) as it is known at the federal level in Canada, was a pretty important addition to government accountability when it became law in jurisdictions across Canada. The Supreme Court of Canada described freedom of information legislation as a pillar of our democracy that provides citizens… View Article
Beyond speed: Who is talking about access to e-government this election?
Aug 28, 2015
The problem of equitable access to high speed Internet in Canada entered the election campaign on Wednesday, August 26, when Stephen Harper promised that a re-elected Conservative government would spend an additional $200 million to promote high speed access in rural and remote communities. Although the promise is short on detail (what counts as high… View Article
The problem with the Fraser Institute’s consumer tax index
Aug 27, 2015
Every summer, the Fraser Institute releases a report pointing out the average family now spends more on taxes than food, clothing and shelter. But is it really a bad thing that as our economy grows we spend less of our income on basic survival and more on better education, better health, parks, environmental protection and… View Article
Raising RRSP withdrawal limit no solution to unaffordable housing
Aug 13, 2015
Far be it from me to school the Prime Minister on the laws of supply and demand. He is, after all, the one who has extensively studied neo-liberal economics. But the Conservatives’ plan to increase what first-time homebuyers can pull from their RRSPs for a down payment – from a maximum of $25K to $35K… View Article
BC Muni’s issue verdict on local government Auditor: They are polite but stupid
Aug 12, 2015
After more than three years of existence, chronic controversy and underperformance from British Columbia’s Auditor General for Local Government (AGLG), the Union of BC Municipalities has issued its own verdict on the office. The office of the AGLG was created in 2012 following up on a promise by Christy Clark to the business community when… View Article
When telling the truth gets you in trouble: Getting serious about serious issues
Aug 12, 2015
“As leaders we have a responsibility to fully articulate the risks our people face. If the politics are not favorable to speaking truthfully, then clearly we must devote more energy to changing the politics.” – Marlene Moses, Ambassador to the United Nations for the South Pacific island nation of Nauru, 2012 “The ecologically necessary is… View Article
TransLink boss salary of $319,244+? Peanuts
Aug 5, 2015
Lately, there has been quite a fuss about how much the top people at TransLink get paid to provide road and transit services in BC’s lower mainland. The Huffington Post describes the salary for a potential new Chief Executive Officer as “eye popping.” The job advertisement describes “a salary of $319,244 plus an annual bonus… View Article
Where is Canada’s digital inclusion strategy?
Jul 23, 2015
When Alex first arrives at the drop-in computer class at his local neighbourhood house he’s never used a keyboard or surfed the Internet before. But he’s determined to learn so he can apply for government services he needs as a recently unemployed person with disabilities. Alex attends the weekly drop-in classes faithfully, working with a… View Article
Inconsistency in BC’s GHG Regulations
Jul 22, 2015
It is no doubt quite naive to think that the BC government (or any government for that matter) would transparently ensure that it imposed the same price on carbon emissions from different industrial sources. Still, carbon is carbon and GHG emissions raise the same concerns regardless of the source. So at least from a naive… View Article
Best and worst cities to be a woman in Canada: how is BC doing?
Jul 15, 2015
The Best and Worst Places to be a Woman In Canada 2015 ranks Canada’s 25 biggest cities based on the gaps in how men and women are faring in five key areas: economic security (as measured by gender gaps in employment, pay and the likelihood of living in poverty); education; health; representation in municipal governments and… View Article
$10 a day child care: smart public policy whose time has come
Jul 14, 2015
Imagine if the BC government put as much energy and effort into solving BC’s child care crisis as it does in promoting LNG. This week, our Premier recalled the legislature from its regular summer break to pass special laws paving the way for one potential LNG project (more about why this is a bad deal here and here). What if… View Article
Just how bad is BC’s LNG deal with Petronas?
Jul 13, 2015
Last week, the BC government released the text of its Project Development Agreement with Pacific Northwest LNG (led by Malaysian state enterprise, Petronas), considered the front-runner in getting BC an LNG export industry. The agreement goes to the BC legislature this week in order to convince Petronas to make a “final investment decision.” There are still other barriers to this… View Article
LNG Project Agreement – A Risky Business
Jul 8, 2015
The Project Development agreement that the provincial government negotiated with Petronas (Pacific Northwest LNG) and now plans to enshrine in legislation has only one purpose. It is an agreement very clearly designed to prevent this and any future British Columbia government from increasing LNG-specific taxes or changing LNG greenhouse gas regulations in ways that would increase… View Article
Today’s smokey skies are a consequence of inaction on climate change
Jul 6, 2015
I was prompted to write this post by the very unusual fact that, right now, Vancouver skies are smokey from the various wildfires burning in southwest BC. Of course, skies filled with smoke and ash are not uncommon in the summer, but it’s a black day in July when fires are so widespread and so… View Article
Legislative changes likely to reduce further the independence of the Auditor General for Local Government
Jun 29, 2015
Earlier this month British Columbians saw one more chapter unfold in the ongoing saga of the Auditor General for Local Government. The provincial government released the report on the AGLG’s office by a former Deputy Minister Chris Trumpy. Trumpy and his report had been the source of earlier controversy which cost the first AGLG, Basia… View Article
Energy and climate in the Harper decade
Jun 26, 2015
The costs of climate change are piling up, and can no longer be ignored. 2015 is poised to be a landmark year, with a new global treaty on climate to be signed in Paris. In contrast, the Harper decade succeeded in stalling any meaningful climate action. The PM’s record is not just of neglect, but… View Article
Evidence is in: privately funded health care doesn’t reduce wait times
Jun 14, 2015
Current public dialogue is full of questions about what kind of innovation or “revamping” the health system needs. In this context, as a physician, I am compelled to apply principles of evidence-based practice to the public vs. private debate: Will Brian Day’s plan to expand privately funded health care in BC shorten wait lists and… View Article
#BoycottTims? It’s about time.
Jun 9, 2015
Twitter was raging against Tim Hortons last Thursday. According to the Ottawa Sun, for much of the day the hottest trending topic in Canada was #BoycottTims. It’s about time, I thought to myself, these allegations have been in the news for at least a couple of years. Back in 2013, a group of Tims employees… View Article