INSIGHTS
Ontario Election: One Year Out
May 4th is an important day in the world of Ontario politics: it marks one year until the official campaign for the 2022 provincial election begins.Of course, with a fixed election date, the “unofficial election campaign” will get underway well before May 4, 2022 and, despite the pandemic, some might argue the election is already heating up.
Federal Budget 2021: A Liberal Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland today released the federal government’s 2021 Budget in the House of Commons. Titled A Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth, and Resilience, the plan aims to support Canadian families and businesses during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, layout a strategy for a post-pandemic economic recovery, and act as a blueprint for a Liberal campaign platform ahead of a potential 2021 federal election.
Ontario Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction Delivers His Third Regulatory Modernization Package
Ontario’s Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction, the Hon. Prabmeet Sarkaria tabled another red tape reduction bill this afternoon, Supporting Recovery and Competitiveness Act. This bill, along with regulatory and policy changes, is aimed at modernizing and streamlining government, improving provincial rules and processes affecting people and businesses.
Conservative Party of Canada Release Climate Plan: Overview & Analysis
Earlier today Opposition Leader Erin O’Toole released the Conservative Party’s Climate Plan, titled Secure the Environment. The 15-page document details the Party’s approach to reducing emissions in line with Canada’s 2030 targets.
Minister Wilkinson Introduces CEPA Amendments & the Government of Canada and FCM a Major Initiative
Today, the Government of Canada made two significant announcements related to energy and the environment. The government tabled new legislation, Bill C-28, which proposes significant changes to the Canadian Environmental Protections Act. The government also launched the Community Building Retrofits Initiative in partnership with FCM.
Canada Informs Ontario of Intent to Transition Output-Based Pricing System (OBPS) to the Ontario Emissions Performance Standards (EPS) on January 1, 2022
The big news around carbon pricing continued this week. On March 29, 2021, the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change informed the Government of Ontario of his intent to take the necessary measures to transition the federal Output-Based Pricing System (OBPS) to the Ontario Emissions Performance Standards (EPS) on January 1, 2022.
Ontario Budget 2021 Analysis
Today, Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy tabled his first, and the Ford government’s third, annual Budget. The Minister, who has been pulling double duty at Finance and Treasury Board since assuming the Finance role from his predecessor, has been in the Finance role for only about three months.
Supreme Court of Canada Rules that Federal Carbon Pricing Law is Constitutional
This morning, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the federal carbon pricing law is constitutional, in a 6-3 landmark decision. The ruling stated that because climate change causes harm beyond provincial boundaries, it is a matter of national concern under the “peace, order and good government” clause in section 91 of the Constitution.
Canada Infrastructure Bank Announces $1bn Indigenous Community Infrastructure Initiative
Today, Ehren Cory, CEO of the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB), announced the launch of a $1 billion Indigenous Community Infrastructure Initiative (ICII). This is intended to enable Indigenous communities to have meaningful equity in projects that will have tangible infrastructure benefits to those communities. This might include helping to reduce or eliminate reliance on diesel generation, water and wastewater infrastructure, broadband, all seasons roads, airports, etc.