Polluter Pay Archives - Canada's Ecofiscal Commission

Nov 29 2019

A final note on Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission

This week, Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission released its final report. While we have a few loose ends to tie up in 2020, the report signals the end of our research mandate. Over the last five years, we’ve contributed to policy conversations across Canada about water, waste, traffic, risk, and climate change. I’d like to think that […]

Oct 31 2019

New Brunswick embraces carbon pricing; it should choose wisely

by Elizabeth Beale and Jonathan Arnold

Climate and Energy Cap-and-trade Carbon Pricing Carbon tax Ecofiscal Commissioners Polluter Pay Provincial Policy Revenue Recycling

Last week, in response to the results of the federal election, New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs announced he would look at options for implementing a carbon price in his province. It’s a policy shift that embraces a core principle of the Pan-Canadian Framework: provinces creating their own, tailored approach to pricing carbon. A made-in-New-Brunswick approach […]

Sep 4 2019

A tax is a tax, except when it isn’t

by Brendan Frank

Climate and Energy Carbon Pricing Carbon Pricing Works Economics for the Rest of Us Polluter Pay

“A tax is a tax.” We hear that often enough. But it’s an unhelpful and even misleading label for carbon pricing, which doesn’t have much in common with the traditional tools governments use to raise revenue. Here’s why. It’s not about raising revenue Let’s take a look at how the money is used. All federal […]

Aug 14 2019

Canada’s wisest policy: stealing policies from other countries

by Chris Ragan

Climate and Energy Carbon Pricing Carbon Pricing Works Carbon tax Opinion Polluter Pay

Canada has a rich tradition of thievery – and it’s a good thing we do. Much of our success comes from adopting sound policies that have already proven successful elsewhere. We implemented employment insurance in 1935, a full 15 years after it was introduced in Britain. We achieved universal health care in the early 1970s, […]

Jul 31 2019

Never forget about acid rain

by Brendan Frank

Pollution Air Pollution Cap-and-trade Carbon Pricing Works Clean-tech Polluter Pay

We don’t hear about acid rain much anymore—at least not in this part of the world. But the term still resonates. It was one of the first environmental issues to capture the public’s attention. I distinctly recall hearing how acid rain could chew through your bicycle or your house on the playground as a kid. […]

Jul 24 2019

Reducing environmental risks from mining in British Columbia

by Jason Dion

Pollution Catastrophic Risk Financial assurance Polluter Pay Provincial Policy

Next month marks the five-year anniversary of the Mount Polley mining disaster. On August 4th, 2014, a dam at the mine ruptured, releasing 24 million cubic metres of water and mine tailings into several lakes and rivers in British Columbia’s Interior. We have written before about how putting a price on the risk of mining […]

An Open Letter from Economists on Canadian Carbon Pricing

Polluter Pay