Tag Archives: cdnpoli

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Guilbeault, McKenna, Wilkinson to Chart Post-COVID Green Recovery – The Energy Mix

The three ministers’ planning for the “green reboot” is still in its earliest stages, at a moment when the machinery of government is preoccupied with the immediate response to a global health emergency, La Presse says. “For the moment, the federal cabinet’s absolute priority is to manage the crisis and support families, workers, and businesses.” After that, the government will look at gradually lifting shelter-at-home restrictions before implementing a follow-up recovery plan.

At that point, La Presse says the recovery agenda could include faster electrification of transportation, support for lower-emitting, more resilient infrastructure, and funding for home energy retrofits.

April 27, 2020

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‘It doesn’t hold the industry accountable’: Critics question $1B oil well clean-up plan

Critics question why Canadian taxpayers should have to pay for an oil company’s mess.

“It’s positive folks will be put to work doing this critical task we’ve
left for ourselves after all these years,” said Regan Boychuk,
researcher with Alberta Liabilities Disclosure Project and longtime
proponent of well reclamation.

“It’s just unfortunate the way it’s being done and who is going to end up paying for it.”

April 25, 2020

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OPINION | Opinion: Weapons in global battle against COVID-19 are also laying siege to freedoms | CBC News

Civil liberties activists are warning that the use of these powerful surveillance technologies by governments could set a dangerous precedent.

Even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the head of a country that prides itself on promotion of human rights and individual liberty internationally, is not ruling out the use of mobile phone tracking to enforce quarantine of those affected by the virus.

The danger is that supposedly democratic governments that get total control of large parts of society as a result of measures to contain COVID-19 may be tempted to do the same with the key democratic institutions.

April 24, 2020

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Small businesses fear banks are freezing them out of a government-backed pandemic loan program | CBC News

One family-run business told CBC News that even though EDC said it should qualify, its bank isn’t allowing it to apply because it isn’t offering the loans to small businesses.

“This is wrong,” said François Bruneau, president of DFC Woodworks. “The banks are strictly going for the big fish.”

EDC said the fastest and easiest way to extend credit to a large number of companies during the pandemic was through the banks, which have existing relationships with companies. But since the money is being delivered through those banks, each financial institution can follow its own criteria and decide which businesses are eligible.

April 24, 2020

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The Problem with Junk Oil

Canada, the world’s fourth largest oil exporter, banked its destiny on the export of low-grade bitumen with no strategic risk planning. As a result it will experience huge economic losses and roller-coaster volatility for its currency.

Alberta promoted over-production and pressed for new pipelines to carry the increased flow. Now, as global demand plummets, it can no longer fill the pipelines it has.

Canada’s six largest banks, which loaned $58.8 billion to the Canada’s overleveraged oil industry in 2019 — a 59 per cent increase in the last five years — might quietly be panicking in board rooms at an appropriate physical distance.

Big Oil in Canada was going to be hard hit without COVID-19. With it, many companies are going to go under — and go under quickly.”

April 22, 2020

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Steve MacLellan

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Tag Archives: cdnpoli