In its final report, the Ecofiscal Commission takes a closer look at Canada’s options for achieving its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions target. To reduce costs, carbon pricing should play a central role. To achieve our GHG target, carbon prices should continue to rise. Other policy approaches, though less visible, are more costly for Canadians.
Myths and misleading statements continue to damage the debate over carbon pricing. This report aims to serve as a resource for Canadians who want to learn what the evidence says about carbon pricing and its impacts on emissions, the economy, affordability, and jobs.
Policy changes can make our waste systems—from product manufacturing to waste disposal—more efficient and less costly. The key to an efficient waste management system is getting incentives right and relying more on market-based policies.
Environmental disasters — for example, train derailments, tailings pond failures, or oil spills — are infrequent, but also potentially costly. The economic activity that drives our prosperity comes with risk to the environment. We cannot eliminate that risk, but we can do more to manage it. Putting a price on environmental risk is key to doing so.
We’ve come a long way in Canada. We have real, working examples of both carbon taxes and cap-and-trade systems that are reducing GHG emissions while maintaining strong economies. Yet the growing consensus around carbon pricing is not yet universal. This essay unpacks carbon pricing in (mostly) jargon-free language. Just the facts.
Well-designed user fees can improve conservation, fund infrastructure, and protect water quality. This report uses five case studies to highlight the progress that Canadian municipalities have made in improving the sustainability of their water systems. It concludes with 10 best practices for designing and implementing user fees for water and wastewater services, based on experience in Canadian cities.