Ecofiscal Commissioners Archives - Page 2 of 6 - Canada's Ecofiscal Commission

Mar 29 2019

There’s probably more consensus on output-based pricing than you think

Meeting Canada’s climate targets in a way that is best for our economic prosperity requires broad policy that creates consistent incentives across all emissions in the economy, from individual households and small businesses to heavy industry. Output-based pricing must be a key part of that mix if Canada is to strike the right balance between […]

Mar 27 2019

The facts about carbon pricing in Canada

by Don Drummond and Brendan Frank

Climate and Energy Carbon Pricing Climate Change Ecofiscal Commissioners Economics for the Rest of Us

In 2019, every jurisdiction in Canada will have a price on carbon. It is the culmination of four years of work to develop a more coordinated approach to climate policy across Canada. Provinces had the opportunity to design their own carbon pricing systems. The federally designed carbon pricing policy (aka, the “backstop”) will come into […]

Feb 13 2019

Why the Ecofiscal Commission is intervening in the carbon-pricing court case

by Chris Ragan

Climate and Energy Carbon Coordination Carbon Pricing Ecofiscal Commissioners Provincial Policy Saskatchewan

This week, the Ecofiscal Commission will participate as an intervener in the Saskatchewan government’s court challenge of the federal carbon pricing policy. We will not be there to support the federal government; nor will we be there to support the Saskatchewan government. We’ll be there to support carbon pricing. We support carbon pricing for several […]

Feb 8 2019

When we debate carbon pricing, can we at least stick to the facts?

by Elizabeth Beale, Don Drummond and Glen Hodgson

Climate and Energy Carbon Pricing Carbon tax Climate Change Ecofiscal Commissioners Opinion

As a group of economists, we still believe that facts should matter when it comes to making important policy decisions. Unfortunately, not everyone involved in the Canadian climate policy debate appears to agree. Myths and rhetoric are pushing the real facts to the sidelines. The result is a mix of confusion and polarization that is […]

Feb 6 2018

Annual Report 2017: Letter from the Chair and Executive Director

by Chris Ragan and Dale Beugin

Climate and Energy Livable Cities Pollution Water Ecofiscal Advisors Ecofiscal Commissioners

When we first started putting the Ecofiscal Commission together in 2013, our goal was to spark discussion. Economists were already talking about using economic instruments to address environmental issues, but we wanted to add “ecofiscal solutions” to the vocabulary of everyday Canadians and the agendas of governments across the country. Today, more than halfway through […]

Mar 8 2017

In defense of cost-effectiveness

by Dale Beugin

Climate and Energy Climate Change Ecofiscal Commissioners Wonk Wednesday

Here at the Ecofiscal Commission, our focus on the costs of policy is a bit of a calling card. Yes, we are absolutely interested in the effectiveness of environmental policies (i.e., to what extent do they reduce pollution or environmental damage?) But as a panel of economists, the Commission also cares—quite a lot, actually—about cost-effectiveness […]

An Open Letter from Economists on Canadian Carbon Pricing

Ecofiscal Commissioners