Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
More than 880,000 Canadians work in industries at risk of decline or closure in the global transition to clean energy, a new analysis says.
The Canadian Institute for Climate Choices is warning in its publication Sink or Swim, that if these industries and federal and provincial governments don't acknowledge that change is coming and prepare for it, there could be devastating consequences.
"This transition is coming irrespective of decisions in Ottawa, or even decisions at provincial levels," said Dale Beugin, vice president of research at the institute.
"This transition is coming from factors outside of Canada's control. So really, it's all about what can the country and what can we do at all orders of government to prepare ourselves for that shift that is making its way to our shores no matter what."
The report identifies several vulnerable sectors, including oil and gas extraction and industries that support that, emissions-intensive manufacturing, transportation, equipment manufacturing, mining and quarrying.
It does say, however, there is opportunity for some companies to succeed if they adjust their practices and outputs -- including, for example, auto plants switching to making electric vehicles or emissions-intensive manufacturers switching to cleaner fuel sources and upgrading technology to be more efficient.
Other sectors, like oil and gas, need government help to transition workers to industries that will survive long-term, including job creation and training plans.
The report says there is no province with workers who aren't going to be affected, though Alberta carries the most risk with more than nine per cent of its workforce employed in vulnerable sectors. Saskatchewan is next at six per cent.
Ontario, with its bigger population, has a higher total number of workers, but five per cent of its workforce is in vulnerable sectors, mostly manufacturing.
There are nine Canadian towns with a population above 10,000,
where one in 10 jobs relies on a vulnerable sector. Another 22 towns of that size have between five and 10 per cent of their workforce in vulnerable industries, and 39 towns have three per cent of their workers employed in vulnerable sectors.
Rachel Samson, the institute's clean growth research director, said "three broad trends are combining in ways that make the global low carbon transition inevitable."
First, 60 countries, including Canada, have committed to net-zero emissions by 2050. Those countries represent 70 per cent of global GDP, more than 70 per cent of global demand for oil and 55 per cent of global demand for oil and gas.
At the same time, Samson said investors are "awakening" to climate risks associated with their investments, with 120 international investors representing 40 per cent of global managed assets also committed to net zero.
Some are already pulling their investments from high-carbon projects and industries.
Finally, she said technology is available that is making it easier than ever before for countries and investors to follow through on their net-zero goals.
The report outlines four recommendations to help prevent Canada from being entirely left behind in the transition to a clean-energy economy.
That includes more emphasis on the long-term competitive impacts of policies, rather than short-term impacts, and redirecting tax incentives away from declining industries and toward clean technology and growth.
It says all policies have to take into account the impact the change is going to have on workers and families and provide aid, job creation and training programs to get them through to the other side.
And finally, it says there must be better data on the risks associated with climate change, for workers and investors alike.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2021.
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
NASA has finally heard back from Voyager 1 again in a way that makes sense. The most distant spacecraft from Earth hadn't sent home any understandable data since last November.
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Organizations across the country are gearing up for what they describe as the largest LGBTQ2S+ mobilization since the push for marriage equality.
Police are investigating after a transport truck collided with a train in Sarnia.
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
A local Oilers fan is hoping to see his team cut through the postseason, so he can cut his hair.
A family from Laval, Que. is looking for answers... and their father's body. He died on vacation in Cuba and authorities sent someone else's body back to Canada.
A former educational assistant is calling attention to the rising violence in Alberta's classrooms.
The federal government says its plan to increase taxes on capital gains is aimed at wealthy Canadians to achieve “tax fairness.”
At 6'8" and 350 pounds, there is nothing typical about UBC offensive lineman Giovanni Manu, who was born in Tonga and went to high school in Pitt Meadows.
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
Molly Knight, a Grade 4 student in Nova Scotia, noticed her school library did not have many books on female athletes, so she started her own book drive in hopes of changing that.
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.