Close X
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Blue chip advisory panel says putting price on pollution the way to go

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 04 Nov, 2014 11:04 AM

    OTTAWA — A new private commission launching today has a message for federal, provincial and municipal governments: Helping the environment is good for the economy.

    Canada's Ecofiscal Commission is anchored by 10 senior economists with experience in public policy making and backed by a multi-partisan group of eminent Canadians with a lofty goal.

    The idea is to stop taxing income, employment and profits — things you want — and to start putting a price on pollution.

    Chris Ragan, the McGill University economist who's chairing the panel, puts the million-dollar-a-year commission's ambitions up there with other once-controversial Canadian policy leaps, including public health care, the Canada Pension Plan and free trade.

    The biggest hurdle, says Ragan, is reversing the mindset that the economy and the environment are a zero sum game — help one and you hurt the other.

    In fact, the commission will present three reports a year that show the opposite, and hopes that advisors such as Reform party founder Preston Manning, former Liberal prime minister Paul Martin, former Quebec premier Jean Charest and Suncor Energy CEO Steve Williams will help convince policy makers that environmentally smart fiscal policy is good economics.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Canadian task force advises against screening for prostate cancer using PSA test

    Canadian task force advises against screening for prostate cancer using PSA test
    TORONTO - A national task force that issues guidelines for doctors says PSA testing should not be used to screen men for possible prostate cancer because it can lead to more harms than benefit.

    Canadian task force advises against screening for prostate cancer using PSA test

    Quebec premier says direct Montreal-China flights could be coming

    Quebec premier says direct Montreal-China flights could be coming
    SHANGHAI - Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard is hinting there could be direct flights between Montreal and Beijing within the next year.

    Quebec premier says direct Montreal-China flights could be coming

    Manitoba premier Greg Selinger facing internal dissent as NDP popularity sags

    Manitoba premier Greg Selinger facing internal dissent as NDP popularity sags
    WINNIPEG - Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger is facing questions about his future from within his own party.

    Manitoba premier Greg Selinger facing internal dissent as NDP popularity sags

    CSIS obstructed spy watchdog's efforts to obtain timely information, report says

    CSIS obstructed spy watchdog's efforts to obtain timely information, report says
    OTTAWA - Just as the federal government is poised to boost the powers of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the national spy watchdog says it has had to push CSIS to hand over crucial information.

    CSIS obstructed spy watchdog's efforts to obtain timely information, report says

    Powder sent to consulates in Turkey tests negative; Canadian consulate closed

    Powder sent to consulates in Turkey tests negative; Canadian consulate closed
    ANKARA, Turkey - Turkish officials say initial tests indicate suspicious packages sent to five consulates in Istanbul — including Canada's — did not contain bioterrorism agents.

    Powder sent to consulates in Turkey tests negative; Canadian consulate closed

    Magnotta trial hears from Montreal lawyer whose mother's name appeared on parcels

    Magnotta trial hears from Montreal lawyer whose mother's name appeared on parcels
    MONTREAL - A Montreal lawyer testified at Luka Rocco Magnotta first-degree murder trial today about a relative's name that ended up on two packages containing body parts of Jun Lin.

    Magnotta trial hears from Montreal lawyer whose mother's name appeared on parcels