Posing as Canadian
Big Foreign Oil's Capture of Canada's Energy and Climate Policy
with Gordon Laxer
Thursday January 27 7:30pm
with Gordon Laxer
Thursday January 27 7:30pm
More about Gordon Laxer and his report, "Posing as Canadian: How Big Foreign Oil Captures Canadian Energy and Climate Policy"...
“People may be surprised and intrigued to learn that all major oil corporations operating in Canada are fully or majority foreign-owned,” says Laxer. “Yet they wave the maple leaf flag, meddle in Canadian politics and perpetually lobby the federal and Alberta governments. In a healthy democracy, the voters, not foreign-influenced corporations, shape the policies enacted in their name.”
The report found that foreign-owned corporations fund about 97 per cent of the revenue of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) - the apex oil and gas lobby group in Canada. A 2018 law bans foreign entities from meddling in Canadian elections. But, if corporations list their headquarters in Canada, they can register as third-party advertisers for elections. Executives of foreign-owned oil corporations have made sizeable contributions to political parties and politicians who favour their agenda. The report recommends closing the loophole.
“Climate impacts now occur across Canada. Oil and gas production is the largest source of carbon pollution here, but still governments drag their feet on policies to transition off fossil fuels. Now we know why,” says CAM co-founder, Sue McKenzie. “Canadians want to be listened to and want a ‘made in Canada’ climate policy, not one influenced by foreign fossil fuel interests.”
Gordon Laxer is a political economist, professor emeritus at the University of Alberta, and the founding Director of Parkland Institute. He is the author of two award-winning books (After the Sands: Energy and Ecological Security for Canadians, and Open for Business: The Roots of Foreign Ownership in Canada) and the editor of several others. He has published over 40 journal articles, refereed book chapters, and research reports. His op-eds have been published widely in Canadian outlets and he has also been a regular guest on current affairs radio and television programs.
“People may be surprised and intrigued to learn that all major oil corporations operating in Canada are fully or majority foreign-owned,” says Laxer. “Yet they wave the maple leaf flag, meddle in Canadian politics and perpetually lobby the federal and Alberta governments. In a healthy democracy, the voters, not foreign-influenced corporations, shape the policies enacted in their name.”
The report found that foreign-owned corporations fund about 97 per cent of the revenue of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) - the apex oil and gas lobby group in Canada. A 2018 law bans foreign entities from meddling in Canadian elections. But, if corporations list their headquarters in Canada, they can register as third-party advertisers for elections. Executives of foreign-owned oil corporations have made sizeable contributions to political parties and politicians who favour their agenda. The report recommends closing the loophole.
“Climate impacts now occur across Canada. Oil and gas production is the largest source of carbon pollution here, but still governments drag their feet on policies to transition off fossil fuels. Now we know why,” says CAM co-founder, Sue McKenzie. “Canadians want to be listened to and want a ‘made in Canada’ climate policy, not one influenced by foreign fossil fuel interests.”
Gordon Laxer is a political economist, professor emeritus at the University of Alberta, and the founding Director of Parkland Institute. He is the author of two award-winning books (After the Sands: Energy and Ecological Security for Canadians, and Open for Business: The Roots of Foreign Ownership in Canada) and the editor of several others. He has published over 40 journal articles, refereed book chapters, and research reports. His op-eds have been published widely in Canadian outlets and he has also been a regular guest on current affairs radio and television programs.
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The next EH! Board meeting will be on ZOOM
Saturday, January 15 at 9:30 am If you wish to attend, please email Susan Hay at hayfield@tcc.on.ca to request the agenda, previous minutes and the link to the meeting |
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COP 26 and Net Zero's Dangerous Distractions
This virtual event was jointly sponsored by Climate Action Muskoka (CAM), Seniors for Climate Action Now! (SCAN!) Education Committee and Environment Haliburton (EH!)
After a brief presentation about COP26 by SCAN members Gail Greer and David Robertson, Marc Lee spoke about the dangers of a Net Zero approach to climate mitigation.
What is COP26? The Glasgow Climate Change Conference, also known as Conference Of the Parties (COP) 26, is the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference. It is scheduled to be held in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, between 31 October and 12 November 2021, under the presidency of the United Kingdom.
Marc Lee is a Senior Economist with the British Columbia office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Marc joined the CCPA in 1998, and is one of Canada's leading progressive commentators on economic and social policy issues. Marc led the CCPA's Climate Justice Project (CJP), which published a wide range of research on fair and effective approaches to climate action through integrating principles of social justice.
Marc continues to write about climate and energy policy, as well as strategies for affordable housing. Over his career, Marc has tracked federal and provincial budgets and economic trends, publishing on a wide range of topics from poverty and inequality to globalization and international trade to public services and regulation.
Marc was "classically trained," with an MA in Economics from Simon Fraser University and a BA in Economics from the University of Western Ontario. But most of the time he argues against the conventional wisdom in economics and policy debates. Marc is the past chair of the Progressive Economics Forum, a national network of heterodox economists, and contributes regularly to Relentlessly Progressive Economics, a blog of the PEF.
This virtual event was jointly sponsored by Climate Action Muskoka (CAM), Seniors for Climate Action Now! (SCAN!) Education Committee and Environment Haliburton (EH!)
After a brief presentation about COP26 by SCAN members Gail Greer and David Robertson, Marc Lee spoke about the dangers of a Net Zero approach to climate mitigation.
What is COP26? The Glasgow Climate Change Conference, also known as Conference Of the Parties (COP) 26, is the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference. It is scheduled to be held in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, between 31 October and 12 November 2021, under the presidency of the United Kingdom.
Marc Lee is a Senior Economist with the British Columbia office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Marc joined the CCPA in 1998, and is one of Canada's leading progressive commentators on economic and social policy issues. Marc led the CCPA's Climate Justice Project (CJP), which published a wide range of research on fair and effective approaches to climate action through integrating principles of social justice.
Marc continues to write about climate and energy policy, as well as strategies for affordable housing. Over his career, Marc has tracked federal and provincial budgets and economic trends, publishing on a wide range of topics from poverty and inequality to globalization and international trade to public services and regulation.
Marc was "classically trained," with an MA in Economics from Simon Fraser University and a BA in Economics from the University of Western Ontario. But most of the time he argues against the conventional wisdom in economics and policy debates. Marc is the past chair of the Progressive Economics Forum, a national network of heterodox economists, and contributes regularly to Relentlessly Progressive Economics, a blog of the PEF.
Recent Videos From Environment Haliburton
EnviroCafés and events
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Take the Community Carbon Challenge
from Climate Action Muskoka
Did you know that 80% of your personal carbon footprint falls into the following three areas?
How You Power Your Home How You Travel What You Eat
We recognize that climate change is a global issue and that we must pressure
all levels of government and Banks to invest in a clean, green, just economy.
We know the choices we make in our personal lives DO matter.
Many of us have been acting to reduce our carbon footprint as individuals.
By signing up we become part of the COLLECTIVE community voice speaking together.
Take the Carbon Challenge!
Create YOUR Personal Action Plan!
Reduce your carbon footprint by 8% per year to reach the goal of 50% reduction by 2030.
Go to https://www.climateactionmuskoka.org/
from Climate Action Muskoka
Did you know that 80% of your personal carbon footprint falls into the following three areas?
How You Power Your Home How You Travel What You Eat
We recognize that climate change is a global issue and that we must pressure
all levels of government and Banks to invest in a clean, green, just economy.
We know the choices we make in our personal lives DO matter.
Many of us have been acting to reduce our carbon footprint as individuals.
By signing up we become part of the COLLECTIVE community voice speaking together.
Take the Carbon Challenge!
Create YOUR Personal Action Plan!
Reduce your carbon footprint by 8% per year to reach the goal of 50% reduction by 2030.
Go to https://www.climateactionmuskoka.org/
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Draft of Shoreline Bylaw
To see the draft of the County Shoreline Bylaw and accompanying documents go here:
Can we protect those natural shorelines from ongoing decline without undermining
shoreline landowner property rights or the shoreline landscape industry?
To shed some light on this and other questions related to the draft County Shoreline Preservation By-law, we speak with shoreline naturalization expert, Julia Sutton, and environmental planning consultant, Stephen Fahner.
Link to Planet Haliburton podcast, March 30, 2020
Background Resources for this broadcast
shoreline landowner property rights or the shoreline landscape industry?
To shed some light on this and other questions related to the draft County Shoreline Preservation By-law, we speak with shoreline naturalization expert, Julia Sutton, and environmental planning consultant, Stephen Fahner.
Link to Planet Haliburton podcast, March 30, 2020
Background Resources for this broadcast
Climate Change Information and Resources
Enviro-Cafés
EH! hosts EnviroCafés on the Second Tuesday of the month alternating between a Minden and Haliburton location.
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, physical Enviro-Cafés will be on hold until further notice.
Next EnviroCafé
Tuesday June 9 7:30 pm
will be online
using ZOOM
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, physical Enviro-Cafés will be on hold until further notice.
Next EnviroCafé
Tuesday June 9 7:30 pm
will be online
using ZOOM
To register go here.
Special Speakers
Dr Dan Longboat
EH! invites speakers to address
the AGM as well as a summer event. Recent speakers have included Elizabeth May, Maude Barlow, Norman Yan and
Peter Schliefenbaum.
The 2019 Summer Keynote speaker was
Dr. Dan Longboat
A Way of Life: Indigenous Knowledge
to Sustain the World
the AGM as well as a summer event. Recent speakers have included Elizabeth May, Maude Barlow, Norman Yan and
Peter Schliefenbaum.
The 2019 Summer Keynote speaker was
Dr. Dan Longboat
A Way of Life: Indigenous Knowledge
to Sustain the World
Upcoming Events
Planet Haliburton is a bimonthly program on CANOE FM, our local community radio station, hosted by Terry Moore, Vice president of EH!. Terry covers topics of environmental importance with relevance to the Haliburton Highlands. The program takes an interview format.
Schedule and details here
Schedule and details here
The Ford Fallout: “I’m dreading the day my grandchildren look at me and ask, ‘Why did you let this happen to us?’”
Dianne Saxe, the former environmental commissioner of Ontario, on the dissolution of her office.
BY TORONTO LIFE | DECEMBER 18, 2019
https://torontolife.com/city/the-ford-fallout-environmental-cuts/
After 40 years as an environmental and energy lawyer working all over the province for clients big and small, I gave up everything I had built to become the third (and, alas, last) environmental commissioner of Ontario. My job was to speak truth to power. I was the guardian of the Environmental Bill of Rights and provided all Ontarians with a reliable, independent, non-partisan assessment of the province’s energy, climate and environmental policies.
There is no topic more important, because our home is on fire. My team produced 17 reports, designed and illustrated to make Ontario’s successes, failures and options clear and understandable. People across Ontario relied on those reports, and I criss-crossed the province meeting with hundreds of groups: community associations, farm leaders, real estate brokers, municipal councils, chemists, cabinet ministers and more. Our work inspired and strengthened policies and actions across Ontario, by documenting, for example, the disproportionate pollution of Indigenous communities, the filth poured into our lakes and rivers, and the energy we waste. In 15 languages, including three Indigenous ones, I gave Ontarians the tools to exercise their environmental rights. And, publicly and privately, I coaxed, cajoled, trained and embarrassed the government into fulfilling its own obligations.
“I was always treated with respect, until September 2018, when I delivered a report documenting the destructive effects of the Ford government’s climate actions. Soon afterwards, the province passed special legislation to abolish my office, break the contract all MPPs had unanimously made with me and crush my employees’ union. How did I find out about all this? From the CBC, when a reporter called to ask about my firing.
Twelve of us lost our jobs; several remain unemployed. But Ontario has lost much more. The Ford government has revoked our climate law, cancelled cap and trade and abandoned two-thirds of our climate pollution target. They cut back flood protection. They broke 752 contracts for clean renewable power that we will soon need, cut environmental and energy conservation, allowed endangered species to be killed for a modest price and restricted the ability of municipalities to protect natural areas. They turbocharged urban sprawl, the major driver of Ontario’s climate pollution.
On almost every part of my energy, environment and climate mandate, the Ford government makes claims that contradict the evidence and takes actions that worsen our future. No wonder they wanted to silence me.
The auditor general now can, if she chooses, fulfill part of my old role, and I hope she will. One of her assistants has a title similar to mine, though he has no budget, staff or statutory role of his own, and he does not make himself available to the public. My job was to put the environment first; the auditor general usually evaluates things in terms of money. We’re in a climate and ecological emergency precisely because of the habit of judging everything in terms of money; doing more of that won’t get us out of it.
Ontario was a climate leader until the Ford government was elected. We’ve since become an international embarrassment, and a place where no contract is safe. In 2018, the Nobel Prize for economics was awarded to a Yale professor who showed that carbon pricing is the best and cheapest policy. Yet Ford continues to waste money fighting the federal carbon price, breaking his own promise to drop that attack if Trudeau were re-elected.
Fortunately, my three grandchildren are too young to understand what’s happening, but I’m dreading the day they look me in the eye and ask, ‘Why did you let this happen to us?’ What will I say?”
Dianne Saxe, the former environmental commissioner of Ontario, on the dissolution of her office.
BY TORONTO LIFE | DECEMBER 18, 2019
https://torontolife.com/city/the-ford-fallout-environmental-cuts/
After 40 years as an environmental and energy lawyer working all over the province for clients big and small, I gave up everything I had built to become the third (and, alas, last) environmental commissioner of Ontario. My job was to speak truth to power. I was the guardian of the Environmental Bill of Rights and provided all Ontarians with a reliable, independent, non-partisan assessment of the province’s energy, climate and environmental policies.
There is no topic more important, because our home is on fire. My team produced 17 reports, designed and illustrated to make Ontario’s successes, failures and options clear and understandable. People across Ontario relied on those reports, and I criss-crossed the province meeting with hundreds of groups: community associations, farm leaders, real estate brokers, municipal councils, chemists, cabinet ministers and more. Our work inspired and strengthened policies and actions across Ontario, by documenting, for example, the disproportionate pollution of Indigenous communities, the filth poured into our lakes and rivers, and the energy we waste. In 15 languages, including three Indigenous ones, I gave Ontarians the tools to exercise their environmental rights. And, publicly and privately, I coaxed, cajoled, trained and embarrassed the government into fulfilling its own obligations.
“I was always treated with respect, until September 2018, when I delivered a report documenting the destructive effects of the Ford government’s climate actions. Soon afterwards, the province passed special legislation to abolish my office, break the contract all MPPs had unanimously made with me and crush my employees’ union. How did I find out about all this? From the CBC, when a reporter called to ask about my firing.
Twelve of us lost our jobs; several remain unemployed. But Ontario has lost much more. The Ford government has revoked our climate law, cancelled cap and trade and abandoned two-thirds of our climate pollution target. They cut back flood protection. They broke 752 contracts for clean renewable power that we will soon need, cut environmental and energy conservation, allowed endangered species to be killed for a modest price and restricted the ability of municipalities to protect natural areas. They turbocharged urban sprawl, the major driver of Ontario’s climate pollution.
On almost every part of my energy, environment and climate mandate, the Ford government makes claims that contradict the evidence and takes actions that worsen our future. No wonder they wanted to silence me.
The auditor general now can, if she chooses, fulfill part of my old role, and I hope she will. One of her assistants has a title similar to mine, though he has no budget, staff or statutory role of his own, and he does not make himself available to the public. My job was to put the environment first; the auditor general usually evaluates things in terms of money. We’re in a climate and ecological emergency precisely because of the habit of judging everything in terms of money; doing more of that won’t get us out of it.
Ontario was a climate leader until the Ford government was elected. We’ve since become an international embarrassment, and a place where no contract is safe. In 2018, the Nobel Prize for economics was awarded to a Yale professor who showed that carbon pricing is the best and cheapest policy. Yet Ford continues to waste money fighting the federal carbon price, breaking his own promise to drop that attack if Trudeau were re-elected.
Fortunately, my three grandchildren are too young to understand what’s happening, but I’m dreading the day they look me in the eye and ask, ‘Why did you let this happen to us?’ What will I say?”
Some photos of the ecosystem that the members of Environment Haliburton inhabit
and of the actions and events that we have supported.
and of the actions and events that we have supported.