WWSHD? - What will Stephen Harper Do?
Stephen Harper’s Conservative government will be introducing the earliest budget ever on January 27, 2009. Aside from the obvious political reasons for the budget being introduced at this time, there is no question that the need for fiscal stimulus is becoming stronger every day. The government has been consulting with various groups and stakeholders as well as the provinces in anticipation of tabling the budget in 11 days.
One of the main things to remember is that the current crisis facing the world is double barrelled and involves both the economy and the environment. However, addressing these crises does not require mutually exclusive solutions. The feds should concentrate on putting money into ensuring that a post-financial crisis Canadian economy is a green economy. I can’t say it any better than Peter Robinson, CEO of the David Suziki Foundation in a piece published today in the Toronto Star:
With a few bold moves, a green stimulus package could turn Canada into a global renewable energy powerhouse. We're talking tens of thousands of new jobs in things like turbine manufacturing, home retrofits, solar panel installation, wind farm construction and transit-line building. These are skilled, made-in-Canada jobs that feed families, build wealth and help communities grow and prosper.
This point is exactly right, and Peter Robinson isn’t the only one to have made it recently. In a pre-budget submission to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, the Canadian Solar Industries Association (“CanSIA”) appealed to the Finance Minister to make “a more aggressive commitment to the deployment of renewable energy” and to “establish the renewable energy sector as a pillar of the nation’s new economic stimulus strategy”. In particular, CanSIA mentioned that the U.S. is expected to experience a solar boom as a result of the “supportive policies and programs that are currently in place or being developed" by Barack Obama and the incoming White House Administration and urged Minister Flaherty to act now to take advantage of favourable forecasts by RBC Capital Markets and Merril Lynch regarding the future of the clean technology and renewable energy fields.
CanSIA proposed that in the 2009 Federal Budget, the Federal Government do the following as part of the renewable energy and economic stimulus strategy:
- Create an electrical grid infrastructure upgrade program. CanSIA proposed that the federal government establish a program to partner with the provinces in funding such upgrades.
- Make a clear commitment to renewable energy through establishment of renewable energy targets as well as streamlined federal procurement processes.
Now is the time for the federal government to show leadership and foresight. The silver lining in the economic crisis is a very real opportunity to establish Canada as a leader and renewable energy powerhouse. Leading by example and being innovative and progressive are all things that Canada is good at and that Canadians are proud to be known for, let’s hope Stephen Harper’s government seizes this opportunity to make Canada’s new economy a green economy.
Great article, and excellent blog - thanks.