Canadian Options for Greater Economic and Environmental Prosperity

Webinar: Practical fiscal solutions for Canada – aligning economic and environmental aspirations

In this 60-minute session, Dr. Chris Ragan will walk participants through the November 2014 report from the Commission that looks at ecofiscal policies reform and the tremendous untapped opportunity for Canada. Glen Hodgson, Chief Economist of The Conference Board will moderate the Q&A and offer expert opinion on aligning Canada’s economic and environmental aspirations—critical for our country’s continuing prosperity.

The report and this webinar will help move the conversation forward on ecofiscal policies. The evidence presented highlights the success of ecofiscal policies already implemented in Canada and the rest of the world—evidence that makes a strong and reasoned argument for greater use of these tools across Canada.

The webinar will explore the five pillars of the argument for greater use of ecofiscal policies:

• Canada’s natural wealth is fundamental to our economy; damaging it is costly
• Canadians deserve a better fiscal system
• ecofiscal policies can be designed to ensure fairness in multiple ways
• improving innovation is critical for Canada’s future
• Canadians can seize an opportunity for long-term, clean prosperity

Canada’s current and future economic prosperity depend on protecting our clean air, water, and land, and also reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. They depend on ramping up Canadian innovation to respond not only to today’s demands, but also to the emerging environmental realities that will shape the markets of tomorrow. This webinar will explore new policies that will increase Canada’s economic and environmental prosperity.

About the speakers:

Dr. Chris Ragan is Chair of Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission and Associate Professor, Macroeconomics and Economic Policy, McGill University. Prior to joining the faculty at McGill in 1989, Chris Ragan was the David Dodge Chair in Monetary Policy at the C.D. Howe Institute. Dr. Ragan has a Ph.D. in Economics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Glen Hodgson is the Conference Board’s Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist and brings 32 years of experience and a specialization in international economic and financial issues to the position. He is responsible for overseeing the Board’s macro-economic outlook products, tourism, custom economic research, and is the Board’s chief spokesperson on economic issues. Glen joined the Board in September 2004, after 10 years at Export Development Canada.