Open Letter on Carbon Pricing READ

Traffic

Nov 29 2019

A final note on Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission

by
Climate and Energy Livable Cities Pollution

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 […]

Nov 21 2019

Think big, start small: Eliminating traffic in Canada’s biggest cities by putting a price on it

by
Livable Cities

Imagine your daily commute with no traffic. Cars, buses, and trucks still fill the roads, but everyone is moving at speed. Instead of taking half-an-hour to get to school, the office, or worksite, you get there in a cool 10 minutes. Your coffee or tea is still piping hot when you arrive. This future is […]

a large series of off-ramps connecting a larger road network
May 1 2019

What “demand is inelastic” actually means

by and
Pollution

“A carbon tax does nothing for the environment.” “Road tolls won’t affect driving habits.” “Prices don’t matter when we’re using water for everyday life.” We hear these arguments frequently when discussing ecofiscal policies. Critics might even drop a little economics jargon. But that doesn’t mean these arguments are grounded in good economics. In this blog, […]

Getting environmental solutions and answers for Canadian municipal
Sep 12 2018

The answers municipal governments have been looking for?

by
Livable Cities

by Rachel Samson Municipal governments are facing multiple, growing, and overlapping challenges. Yet, there are tools available to address these challenges that are not being used to their full potential.  Market-based policies such as well-designed user fees can help reduce traffic, cut water use, and improve solid waste management, while generating revenue that can be […]

Photo of 417 highway in Ottawa for Paved Paradise: Could congestion pricing work in Ottawa?
Apr 12 2017

Paved Paradise: Could congestion pricing work in Ottawa?

by
Livable Cities Pollution

Two weeks ago, the Healthy Transportation Coalition (HTC) held a forum at the University of Ottawa. The subject: congestion pricing in our nation’s capital. The HTC hosted six expert speakers for a lively debate (including our research team’s fearless leader, Dale Beugin). The same day, four Ottawa city councillors released a new report on congestion […]

Mar 1 2017

Smooth sailing: Distance-travelled charges offer a flexible policy tool to tackle traffic

by
Livable Cities Pollution

The topics of congestion pricing and tolling are heating up in a number of Canadian jurisdictions, most recently in Nova Scotia. We are taking the opportunity to shine a light on various forms of congestion pricing, based on our 2015 report We Can’t Get There From Here. This blog discusses distance-travelled charges, an approach that […]

© Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission