Op Eds 2008

Let’s not waste this crisis

The Prime Minister is meeting with the Premiers next week to discuss the economy. No doubt, how to address the distress in the forest products industry will be one of the issues discussed. The current situation is dire with large drops in demand in both the lumber and paper sectors leading to layoffs and plant closures.

Dear First Ministers: Urgent and Strategic Action Required

As the Prime Minister and Premiers prepare to meet later this week to discuss how best to respond to the current economic crisis, what measures should they be planning to take?

Dear Prime Minister

We are writing on behalf of the millions of Canadians whose jobs depend directly and indirectly on sustaining a competitive manufacturing and value-adding business sector in Canada to ensure that your Government fully understands the critical situation that these companies face.

Carbon Taxes: Some are Smart, Some are Not

Choosing between a carbon tax and a cap and trade system for reducing Canada’s impact on the climate may make for good political theatre but from a practical policy perspective the debate simply misses the point.  Both systems can work well if thoughtfully designed. But, both systems can be very dysfunctional if poorly designed. And ironically, a combination of the two approaches may be best choice of all.

Why Canada’s forest sector will matter: Land-use squeeze to spark demand

There is no doubt that current economics in the Canadian forestry sector are grim. However, when you look out at the horizon, at where global economics are quickly going, it’s clear that the industry’s longer-term prospects are excellent. And strangely, the future of Canada’s most distressed sector provides the most compelling story of how privileged Canada will be in tomorrow’s world economy.

Op Eds Archive