Ontario's energy minister and nuclear plans

Smitherman rejects Nanticoke nuke plan

Says Bruce Power idea `designed to influence government policy'

A story from the Toronto Star talking about Bruce Nuclear power's recent announcement...
www.thestar.com/article/528577

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The World Wil Struggle to Meet Oil Demand

The Financial Times has an article on oil production, per the recent IEA report. They got a hold of it before its release. In a nutshell, it says that oil production is down by 9.1%. This needs to be examined more closely, because if this is true, then we are looking at a MUCH faster energy slide than initially understood.

Note: the link to the Financial Times requires you to register, but it's a free account.

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Sarah Palin's Pipeline to Nowhere

An interesting article from MSN on Sarah Palin's work to build a pipeline from Alaska to the lower 48 states, through Canada, and the vast corruption that surrounds the entire project.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Gov. Sarah Palin's signature accomplishment — a contract to build a 1,715-mile pipeline to bring natural gas from Alaska to the Lower 48 — emerged from a flawed bidding process that narrowed the field to a company with ties to her administration, an Associated Press investigation shows.

Beginning at the Republican National Convention, the McCain-Palin ticket has touted the pipeline as an example of how it would help America achieve energy independence.

"We're building a nearly $40 billion natural gas pipeline, which is North America's largest and most expensive infrastructure project ever, to flow those sources of energy into hungry markets," Palin said during the Oct. 2 vice presidential debate.

Despite Palin's boast of a smart and fair bidding process, the AP found that her team crafted terms that favored only a few independent pipeline companies and ultimately benefited the winner, TransCanada Corp.

And contrary to the ballyhoo, there's no guarantee the pipeline will ever be built; at a minimum, any project is years away, as TransCanada must first overcome major financial and regulatory hurdles.

Click to read the rest of the article. It is well worth it.

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Etobicoke Centre Survey Response

As our readers know, we sent the same question to the different candidates in our home ridings, primarilly to ensure that, whomever was the victor was in an individual riding, that they had become more aware of the energy issue.
The question forwarded to each candidate was as below.

Question : Surprisingly, even though Canada is a net oil exporter, Canada imports almost half our daily oil needs from Iraq, Algeria and other far away countries. World production of oil is expected to stop growing soon and no alternatives are ready on the scale and timeframe needed. The design of our pipeline and refinery system means that millions of Eastern Canadians cannot gain access Canadian oil no matter what the circumstances. This leaves millions of Canadians exposed to disruptions on the world oil market.
What would your party do to erase these infrastructure deficits and ensure Canadian energy security?

In Etobicoke Centre, the only response revceived was from the Liberal candidate Borys Wrzesnewskyj; the Conservative candidate Alex Kuhn did not respond to the hand delivered letter, nor did the NDP candidate Joseph Schwartz to a mailed question (he appeared to be running his campaign out of a downtown office). The Green Party candidate proved to be virtually invisible, and appeared not to have an office, with phone calls going to a residential line somewhere in the ‘905.’

Borys Wrzesnewskyj was quick off the mark, appearing to be well informed; he indicated he felt the Harper government was going in the wrong direction (no surprise there) and he was quick to cite the feds involvement in importation of liquid natural gas. He didn’t object to the imports (knowing that Canada’s own supply was becoming increasingly questionable) but he considered signing long term supply contracts with the Russians to be a mistake.

He considered that Ontario should become the major destination for Quebec’s hydroelectric power, and wanted extensive windmill development on Lake Superior. He also listed the deep lake water for cooling project currently in use in Toronto as an example of ways to get off fossil fuel energy. He closed by speaking about the use of geothermal energy for heating and cooling, and how more government subsidies to assist with conversion costs would be an avenue worth exploring.

During the conversation, the term peak oil never came up, but Mr Wrzesnewskyj seemed aware of the problem and focussed on practical solutions.

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St. Paul's Survey Responses

LIBERAL PARTY: Thank you for your interest. The Liberal Party platform focuses on the need for reducing our carbon emissions and our overall levels of energy consumption through the Green Shift policy. This will create consistent tax incentives to ensure large and small emitters decrease their carbon footprints. At the same time, we will provide tax breaks on income, investment, and for the development and application of greener technologies. We have paid close attention for the need to assist those on the lowest incomes to cope with the new carbon taxes and to access the new greener technologies. The Liberal Party is making an inviolable commitment that these changes, necessary to creating real declines in carbon emissions, will be made revenue neutral.

At the same time, the Liberal party is committed to a $70 billion dollar infrastructure program. An important element of this plan, we will ensure that all infrastructure projects supported by these funds work to reduce carbon emissions. Our party is committed to the goals of placing the Canadian economy at the forefront of the developing green technologies, and making us a leader, rather than a straggler, in carbon emissions reductions. Ensuring that Canadians have maximum access to Canadian oil products, so that these do not have to be imported from faraway countries, and that Canadian oil production is itself as environmentally benign as possible will be important elements of this approach. We must cut back on our bloated fossil fuel diet, and that will greatly assist us to move toward energy self-sufficiency.

For further details of the Green Shift and Infrastructure policies, please consult a=our party platform, A Richer, Fairer, Greener Canada, available on our website at www.liberal.ca.

Sincerely
Carolyn Bennett,Liberal Party Candidate for St Paul’s Riding

GREEN PARTY: Thank you for your interest in the Green Party of Canada's vision for Canada's energy infrastructure and our need to diversify to gain energy security. Please find our reponse below.

Best,
Justin

What would your party do to erase these infrastructure (having to import oil when we can generate it ourselves) deficits and ensure Canadian energy security?

Our energy program is multifaceted and does not focus on one aspect individually, but instead looks at the need for energy efficiency, conservation, diversification and decentralization. Essentially, we will ensure Canada's energy security by easing off oil and instead concentrate on non-polluting, job creating industries that will make Canadian energy production one of the cleanest and most sustainable in the world.

Energy efficiency is a central part of our vision for a greener, more secure Canada. The Green Party will improve energy efficiency in Canada by ensuring that all appliances sold in Canada will meet or exceed the Energy Star rating by 2015. Non-rated appliances will be eliminated from the market by 2010 along with energy wasting light bulbs that can be replaced with longer lasting and more efficient halogen bulbs.

Our buildings must also become more efficient. Today, buildings account for as much as 33% of Canada's GHG emissions when heat and power are combined. A Green government will set a goal to retrofit 100% of Canada's buildings to a high level of energy efficiency by 2025. We will promote building efficiency by giving refundable tax credits for all energy retrofit costs; by providing tax-deductible Green Mortgages which will allow homeowners and business to invest in their buildings; and by establishing a national program to retrofit public sector buildings such as universities, schools, museums and hospitals. Improving the efficiency of how Canadians live will allow us to use less energy, making Canada a more energy secured country.

The Green Party firmly believes that we must concentrate our resources towards the development of new and substantial renewable energy sources. The Green Party would work to replace all the coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power plants with renewable sources by 2040. By making substantial investments in wind, solar, tidal/wave and other technologies we can ease off our dependence on foreign oil and develop a truly Canadian approach to energy development. Producing energy using renewable sources would be good for our economy, our energy security and our environment because we would be tapping into renewable resources commonly available throughout our country.

The Green Party would achieve these goals and advance Canada's capacity for renewable energy sources through substantially increased funding for research and development into ocean energy technologies and the storage of energy generated through renewable sources. We will meet our energy demands through innovation and diversification, not through dependence on a non-renewable resource that is high polluting and unsustainable in the long term.

We would look to decentralize our energy production so that events such as the 2003 blackout would not threaten the lives and security of Canadians. By relying on various types of energy coming from all parts of the country and from various sources, we would know that if something fails in one region or with one type of generator the entire country or region would not be affected. This provides Canadians with an enhanced degree of energy security and diminishes our dependence for oil.

When it comes to our infrastructure deficit, we need to invest in the critical infrastructure of transport and water works to modernize and reduce energy demand. The Green Party Government will continue the gas tax commitment as envisioned by the previous government to allow for stable and predictable funding. As well the Green Party Government will liberate billions of dollars a year through RRSP deductions for municipal bonds.

Municipalities need stable and predictable funding so that they can invest in critical infrastructure such as mass transit, sewage treatment, energy efficiency improvements, better water systems to reduce waste and cope with erratic precipitation patterns of a changing global climate, as well as community amenities like sports fields, arts and cultural opportunities.

The Green Party will create a new pool of municipal infrastructure funding by changing tax rules to create a Municipal Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) bond that can be held in RRSPs and self-directed RRSPs. In February 2006 alone, Canadians bought $8 billion in mutual funds. Imagine if even half of that was available to our communities.

This would be in addition to allocating an additional portion of the federal gasoline tax directly to the provinces for transfer to municipalities. The Green Party supports the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Large Cities Caucus request for a commitment of one cent from GST as a reasonable approach to stable financing. This is made possible through carbon tax revenue. Municipal governments must enter into agreements to ensure that sprawl is not permitted through extensive infrastructure funding. Densification, speedy, safe and pleasant mass transit, safe cycling paths and other investments to conserve electricity and water will all merit stable GST-sourced financing.

The Green Party has put forward a progressive and ambitious plan to help Canada move forward in energy production. A Green government will make Canada a much more self-reliant nation that can meet its own energy needs without the significant importation of foreign supplies. This will not only help secure our energy needs but will provide thousands of new jobs and create a cleaner and healthier environment in which we can all live.

NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY: I've actually been a member of the post-carbon Toronto facebook group for a while now myself. I've attended several lectures and events hosted by the group as well.
At the NDP we completely recognize the harsh reality that Canada under Stephen Harper (and formerly under the Liberals) is increasingly becoming an "Energy colony" of the US. This leaves us at risk in terms of environmental devastation, economic and consumer vulnerability.
I believe I can address this question in terms of two areas of our platform that factor into this scenario:

1) Consumer protection:
Create an investigation and prosecution office to deal with gas gouging. Investigate consumer complaints, collusion and gouging by gas companies. Prosecute and fine offenders where there is clear evidence of price gouging or collusion.

2) SPP, NAFTA and Energy Security:
- We are the ONLY party that has discussed or even brought up the issues of deep integration in parliament. While such issues are shrouded in secrecy behind closed doors we have been actively pressing for recognition and disclosure by the governments of Canada and the US.

We already secured the first-ever parliamentary hearings on the Security and Prosperity Partnership—ensuring an official record of testimony on the deal’s threats to sovereignty in key areas such as agriculture, the environment, health care, energy and income security.

- We have already begun the process of developing a NAFTA task-force with Mexican and US leaders. We Co-launched a tri-national Task Force on Renegotiating NAFTA alongside US Democrats and Mexican legislators to promote changes to the trade deal to protect national sovereignty, labour rights, the environment and the public interest.

- On NAFTA we plan to continue working towards renegotiations, especially in the following areas:

Renegotiating NAFTA chapter 6- which right now limits Canada’s control over our own energy resources; and NAFTA chapter 11- which currently allows foreign investors to challenge Canada’s right to make laws to protect our interests.
Correcting NAFTA’s deeply flawed dispute resolution mechanisms.
Requiring strong labour and environmental standards in every trade deal Canada signs.
Exploring opportunities for a model fair-trade deal with the European Union.

- We pushed for Canadian energy self-sufficiency by promoting proposals for an east-west power grid that will reduce or end reliance on American power from coast to coast to coast.

You may find more information on our website www.ndp.ca
Thank you
-Anita Agrawal

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NDP Answers PCT Question

I do have to say that the NDP quite honestly "knocked my socks off" with their response. Bravo! I take this as a very encouraging sign that behind closed doors at least our political process is coming to grips with the enormity of the challenge that peak energy poses. They are also to be commended for having convened the first Parliamentary Committee on Fossil Fuel Depletion. (feb.7,2008) If you are interested in reading a transcript of these proceedings I can provide you with one.

Ton confrere,
J.F. Berg

OUR QUESTION:
Surprisingly, even though Canada is a net oil exporter, Canada imports almost half our daily oil needs from Iraq, Algeria and other far away countries. In addition, the design of our pipeline and refinery system means that millions of Eastern Canadians cannot access Canadian oil no matter what the circumstances. This leaves millions of Canadians exposed to disruptions on the world oil market.

What would your party do to erase these infrastructure deficits and ensure Canadian energy security?

NDP Answer:
We need to unite the country behind a strategy for Canada’s long-term energy security. A crucial part of reducing pollution and fighting global warming must be substantial new investments in renewable energy solutions. Jack Layton’s New Democrats will implement a comprehensive New Energy Economy Strategy, developed through consultation and a cooperative effort of all stakeholders from coast to coast to coast.

We must plan now for a future where our energy consumption is drastically reduced and where all our energy comes from renewable sources. We need to make sure that our energy policies put the needs of Canadians first.As Prime Minister, Jack Layton will make Canadian energy security and environmental standards priorities in trade negotiations, including putting energy front and centre in any new trade negotiations with the United States. A New Democrat Government will renegotiate NAFTA’s Chapter 6, which unreasonably limits Canadian sovereignty over its energy resources and may prevent Canadian energy security.

We will introduce new financial incentives for clean power, including from solar, wind, water, biomass and other renewable sources for electricity production and from manufacturing here in Canada. This will keep the economic benefits and jobs in Canada and temper the unchecked exploitation of our resources. Canada’s New Democrats will remove bureaucratic barriers to the development, manufacture, and licensing of zero emission vehicles in Canada and increase support for rail transport – including developing high-speed trains in urban corridors such as Edmonton-Calgary and Windsor-Quebec City.

Finally, we will begin a discussion with the provinces and territories for an East-West Renewable Energy Grid. This nation-building and climate action exercise needs federal financial support and leadership to assist provinces in building the renewable energy infrastructure that will transition Canada away from high pollution and nonrenewable energy.
We encourage you to find out more by consulting Canada’s New Democrats’ plan for energy and the environment that will really work at:www.ndp.ca/platform/environment

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NEP = No Energy Plan

In its continuing efforts to raise awareness about the issue of peak energy, energy security and energy policy for Toronto, and Canada, Post Carbon Toronto is adding itself to the fast burgeoning discussion landscape popularly known as the 'blogosphere'. In addition we will be joining the legion of 'Youtubers' in the hopes of being able to provide a voice to our organization and our members. We encourage all PCT members and devotees of the twin issues of peak energy and emissions to join us by making their own videos. Please alert us when you do and we will do our best to compile them into an archive. As 'Oily Cassandra' shows in the following highly engaging vid http://www.oilrelease.com/ there is more than one way to attract attention to this issue.

For those of you reading this who may be running across us for the first time a little history. PCT began meeting in 2004. For four years those of us who founded this initiative met on a weekly basis to discuss what we could do to help be part of the solution. One of the principle accomplishments that we have managed in these years is to create a public outreach lecture series. Next month will be our 52nd. On this night Glen Seale, a member of PCT's planning committee, will give a talk on electric vehicles and how they can be part of the mix for solving the transportation problems that liquid fuel prices and availability will force on our communities and nation.

PCT is made up of three parts. It's 7 member Executive, Chaired by Randy Park, it's 8 member planning committee, and it's membership. Our Peak Oil meet-up site http://oilawareness.meetup.com/70/ has 367 members and is where you can find out about how to attend our monthly session. The next one on electric vehicles promises to be exceptional. Our home site http://www.postcarbontoronto.org/ is where you can read more about us and contact us. We also manage a listserv discussion forum that anyone is free to join. torontopeakoil@yahoogroups.com

The most important thing to note as we begin our efforts in this direction is that you will hear a diversity of opinion from us on this forum. We will each of us be speaking from our individual perspective. Yes PCT will at times speak with one voice as an organization but on this forum it is the diversity of our opinions that we are looking to highlight. And on that note here are a few of mine.

Today's NEP: No Energy Plan?

It is true to say that Canada is very much behind the curve when it comes to energy. Our leaders proclaim us an "energy superpower" but is this true? For one Canada is the only Western Industrialized nation that has no Strategic Petroleum Reserve. For another we import half the oil that we use into this country even as we export over 60% of what we produce. Furthermore we are also the only nation in the world, that's right the one and only, that has guaranteed a foreign market the right of first access of the majority of our gas and oil regardless of scarcity. I kid you not. As they say in baseball you can look it up. I.e. NAFT Agreement, (bit of British humour for you there) Chapter 6. http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/nafta-alena/texte/chap06.aspx?lang=en

This clause familiarly known as 'The Proportionality Clause' is unique in the world and poorly understood by most of our politicians and virtually unknown to most Canadians. What is invariably overlooked is the fact that this clause will only be invoked if our government attempts to change the dynamics of the marketplace. To some this makes it innocuous. As in, "Well as long as we can pay the going price we'll get the gas we need." What this view mistakes is that Canadian and U.S. consumers do not buy the gas they need directly from the producers. They buy it instead gas stations who buy it from the major oil companies who buy it from the producers. The vast majority of these oil companies are American. It is these corporations that will do the "competing" during a time of scarcity not the consumer. What would the effect of this be in a time of crisis? I leave you to be the judge of the patriotism of American corporations. For my part I think the last week's events on Wall Street are a very good indicator of the flexibility of the American government when it comes to market principles. Something of which Canadians in the beef and lumber industries need no reminding.

So who are we getting 50% of the oil we use from anyway? Of the countries that we import from that inspire less than abundant confidence are Iraq, Nigeria, Algeria and Venezuela. The U.K and Norway, while stable politically, are now seeing their production decline at rates that will impact their ability to continue exporting in the near future. Britain is already a net importer. Despite these obvious challenges we have failed to create the infrastructure in this country to that would allow half of our citizens to access Canadian oil should the need arise.

With all these challenges one would think that energy would be an issue equal to the economy or the environment this election. And yet here we are once again with a Canadian election that is coming and going with essentially zero talk about energy security for Canadians. This constitutes very real recklessness on the part of our government and blindness on the part of all of our party leaders.

NRCan is charged by law to engage in all aspects of our nations energy plan. Yet when the NRCan was asked directly by Gordon Laxer of Parkland what their plan was for supply disruptions he was told succinctly "There isn't one." The same response was given to Doug Munroe, National Farmers Union and PCT member, when he made the same inquiry. I urge all of you reading this posting to ask the same question. You can do so at the following link. http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/concon/concon-eng.php#frm I have done so and so far have received no reply. I will follow up soon with a phone call and report the results.

This is what Sheila Fraser had to say about this highly untenable situation.
Sheila Fraser, Auditor General, November 3, 2005:

"...operating sectors did not use a coherent framework for assessing risk, and the Department did not have appropriate emergency plans in place for all its responsibility areas."
"Mr. Chairman, NRCan's responsibilities for emergency preparedness are spelled out in the Emergency Preparedness Act, and the government has had a policy in place since 1995 on NRCan's lead role. The Department informed us that the policy is outdated. However, Canadians cannot wait for further changes to the policy to have appropriate plans. Our audit recommended that the Department, in collaboration with other stakeholders, should ensure that appropriate plans are completed without delay." (to which I say "Amen to that!")

And yet still we delay. In a strictly legal sense if there were to be supply disruptions within the next few years these disruptions would occasion financial and human costs. Were this to occur I would not be surprised to find our government in a court of law being sued for negligence. What opposition parties would no doubt label "criminal recklessness". It of course bears noting the Liberals have held power many times since the first oil shock in 1973 and so share a significant part of the blame as well. In their defense their attempt to create a National Energy Program for Canada was exactly the right thing to do, and precisely what every oil producing nation outside of the Anglosphere has already done. Every last one. Unfortunately since the NEP's defeat by the kind of powerful financial interests that are eternally interested in enclosing the commons the Liberals have been AWOL. on the question of energy security.

As to the NDP while their hands are clean from the point of view of power they too have been largely absent from the point of view of offering comprehensive alternatives to the dangerous status quo. On the plus side the NDP is the only party so far to have convened a Parliamentary Committee to look at fossil fuel depletion. They did so on February 7, 2008. Their energy critic is Dennis Bevington, MP West High Artic, and he is very well informed on the issue of peak energy. Parkland's Gordon Laxer, Richard Heinberg and PCT were three of six invited to give expert testimony to the committee.
The Green Party of Canada has to date been the party who has engaged this issue most directly. During their recent policy review process the GPC drew up many very sensible measures to deal with energy policy as a whole as well as the issue of depletion and disruptions to supply. Unfortunately because of Harper's snap election call there has not yet been time for these policies to be officially ratified. Three members of PCT were an integral part of this process and PCT would be happy to do the same for any and all of the parties. We are in principle and in practice a non-partisan organization.

PCT GETS SOME TV TIME: The following media coverage of the issue of peak oil and energy security by no means balances the problems above described but it is at least a move in the right direction for creating the kind of public awareness that can translate into political pressure. http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_27572.aspx

This attempt to raise awareness has of course been going on for quite some time. Dr. Hubbert kicked it off over 50 years ago and Jean Laherre and Colin Campbell jumpstarted the moribund effort with their seminal National Geographic article in 1998, 'The End of Cheap Oil.' Since then groups like ASPO, the Post Carbon Institute and The Oil Drum have been leading the charge. More locally folks like Richard Gilbert, Jim Lemon and Greg Allen have dedicated enormous amounts of time and energy over the last ten years to try and both raise awareness as well as be professionally engaged in evolving solution sets at a high level. Another Torontonian who must be congratulated is Greg Greene for his films the End of Suburbia and Escape from Suburbia. In many significant ways EOS was at the centre of galvanizing a community of activists that did not yet know they were a community. Ontarian Barry Silverthorn must also be commended for having conceived and produced EOS. We at PCT owe a large thanks to the efforts of Rose Kudlac in starting the organization back in 2004 and to Kjel Oslund for the creation of our constitution.

At this time PCT would also like to thank the following people for the many hours they have cumulatively contributed to PCT and the issue of energy security for Toronto and Canada. Adriana Mugnatto-Hamu, Lee Boal, Judy Vellend, David Elfstrom, Anne Langdon, Paul Truman, Henry Warwick, Glean Seale, Claudia Davila, and of course our Chair Randy Park.

It is a brave new world of information out there today my friends and PCT hopes you will help us spread the word and build the movement that will better help us to better meet the enormous challenges that lie ahead. This election cycle it is the turn of the climate change and environmtal movements to try and turn the tide of laissez-faire business and government. To turn our leaders towards the responsibilities that they demonstrably owe to us all.

With your help we hope to find in the next election cycle 'A Made in Canada Energy Solution' as front and centre as the 'Green Shift' is today. With your help I have no doubt that at the very least the issue will be more clearly articulated.

ton confrere,

J.F. Berg
www.postcarbontoronto.org

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Toronto Danforth - Survey Responses

GREEN PARTY:

Our energy program is multifaceted and does not focus on one aspect individually, but instead looks at the need for energy efficiency, conservation, diversification and decentralization. Essentially, we will ensure Canada's energy security by easing off oil and instead concentrate on non-polluting, job creating industries that will make Canadian energy production one of the cleanest and most sustainable in the world.

Energy efficiency is a central part of our vision for a greener, more secure Canada. The Green Party will improve energy efficiency in Canada by ensuring that all appliances sold in Canada will meet or exceed the Energy Star rating by 2015. Non-rated appliances will be eliminated from the market by 2010 along with energy wasting light bulbs that can be replaced with longer lasting and more efficient halogen bulbs.

Our buildings must also become more efficient. Today, buildings account for as much as 33% of Canada's GHG emissions when heat and power are combined. A Green government will set a goal to retrofit 100% of Canada's buildings to a high level of energy efficiency by 2025. We will promote building efficiency by giving refundable tax credits for all energy retrofit costs; by providing tax-deductible Green Mortgages which will allow homeowners and business to invest in their buildings; and by establishing a national program to retrofit public sector buildings such as universities, schools, museums and hospitals. Improving the efficiency of how Canadians live will allow us to use less energy, making Canada a more energy secured country.

The Green Party firmly believes that we must concentrate our resources towards the development of new and substantial renewable energy sources. The Green Party would work to replace all the coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power plants with renewable sources by 2040. By making substantial investments in wind, solar, tidal/wave and other technologies we can ease off our dependence on foreign oil and develop a truly Canadian approach to energy development. Producing energy using renewable sources would be good for our economy, our energy security and our environment because we would be tapping into renewable resources commonly available throughout our country.

The Green Party would achieve these goals and advance Canada's capacity for renewable energy sources through substantially increased funding for research and development into ocean energy technologies and the storage of energy generated through renewable sources. We will meet our energy demands through innovation and diversification, not through dependence on a non-renewable resource that is high polluting and unsustainable in the long term.

We would look to decentralize our energy production so that events such as the 2003 blackout would not threaten the lives and security of Canadians. By relying on various types of energy coming from all parts of the country and from various sources, we would know that if something fails in one region or with one type of generator the entire country or region would not be affected. This provides Canadians with an enhanced degree of energy security and diminishes our dependence for oil.

When it comes to our infrastructure deficit, we need to invest in the critical infrastructure of transport and water works to modernize and reduce energy demand. The Green Party Government will continue the gas tax commitment as envisioned by the previous government to allow for stable and predictable funding. As well the Green Party Government will liberate billions of dollars a year through RRSP deductions for municipal bonds.

Municipalities need stable and predictable funding so that they can invest in critical infrastructure such as mass transit, sewage treatment, energy efficiency improvements, better water systems to reduce waste and cope with erratic precipitation patterns of a changing global climate, as well as community amenities like sports fields, arts and cultural opportunities.

The Green Party will create a new pool of municipal infrastructure funding by changing tax rules to create a Municipal Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) bond that can be held in RRSPs and self-directed RRSPs. In February 2006 alone, Canadians bought $8 billion in mutual funds. Imagine if even half of that was available to our communities.

This would be in addition to allocating an additional portion of the federal gasoline tax directly to the provinces for transfer to municipalities. The Green Party supports the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Large Cities Caucus request for a commitment of one cent from GST as a reasonable approach to stable financing. This is made possible through carbon tax revenue. Municipal governments must enter into agreements to ensure that sprawl is not permitted through extensive infrastructure funding. Densification, speedy, safe and pleasant mass transit, safe cycling paths and other investments to conserve electricity and water will all merit stable GST-sourced financing.

The Green Party has put forward a progressive and ambitious plan to help Canada move forward in energy production. A Green government will make Canada a much more self-reliant nation that can meet its own energy needs without the significant importation of foreign supplies. This will not only help secure our energy needs but will provide thousands of new jobs and create a cleaner and healthier environment in which we can all live.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me at 416-273-8245 or sharon@danforthgreens.ca

Sharon Howarth, Green Party Candidate, Toronto-Danforth

New Democratic Party - NDP


We need to unite the country behind a strategy for Canada’s long-term energy
security. A crucial part of reducing pollution and fighting global warming must be
substantial new investments in renewable energy solutions. Jack Layton’s New
Democrats will implement a comprehensive New Energy Economy Strategy,
developed through consultation and a cooperative effort of all stakeholders from
coast to coast to coast.

We must plan now for a future where our energy consumption is drastically reduced
and where all our energy comes from renewable sources. We need to make sure that
our energy policies put the needs of Canadians first.

As Prime Minister, Jack Layton will make Canadian energy security and
environmental standards priorities in trade negotiations, including putting energy
front and centre in any new trade negotiations with the United States. A New
Democrat Government will renegotiate NAFTA’s Chapter 6, which unreasonably limits
Canadian sovereignty over its energy resources and may prevent Canadian energy
security.

We will introduce new financial incentives for clean power, including from solar, wind,
water, biomass and other renewable sources for electricity production and from
industrial co-generation and small-scale, sustainable community facilities.

We will also establish the Canadian Renewable Energy Agency. The agency will be
responsible for encouraging and developing renewable energy in Canada. It will:
 Work cooperatively with all stakeholders towards meeting 35 percent of
Canada’s energy needs with renewable energy by 2020, including hard
targets for renewable fuels, biomass, wind power and other renewables.
 Provide funding for developing and supporting renewable energy
programs.

Jack Layton will stop the massive tax breaks and subsidies to the tar sands, big oil
and gas companies, and nuclear power and halt any new tar sands development until
carbon emissions are capped, significant environmental and health impacts are
addressed, and protected areas are set aside.
 We will improve and enforce appropriate federal regulation of all
environmental impacts – air, water, land, fish and wildlife – that arise
from the exploitation of Canada’s oil and gas reserves.
 Because the need for oil and gas will not disappear overnight, we will
discourage bulk exports of our unprocessed resources to the US and
China, and encourage responsible upgrading, refining and petro-chemical
manufacturing here in Canada. This will keep the economic benefits and
jobs in Canada and temper the unchecked exploitation of our resources.
Canada’s New Democrats will remove bureaucratic barriers to the development,
manufacture, and licensing of zero emission vehicles in Canada and increase support
for rail transport – including developing high-speed trains in urban corridors such as
Edmonton-Calgary and Windsor-Quebec City.

Finally, we will begin a discussion with the provinces and territories for an East-West
Renewable Energy Grid. This nation-building and climate action exercise needs
federal financial support and leadership to assist provinces in building the renewable
energy infrastructure that will transition Canada away from high pollution and nonrenewable
energy.

We encourage you to find out more by consulting Canada’s New Democrats’ plan for
energy and the environment that will really work at:
www.ndp.ca/platform/environment

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Green Building Incentives: Existing Buildings, Toronto

ECO3 Inc. is a sustainable building consulting firm. ECO3's mission is to provide clients with the services necessary to make ecologically, economically and equitably sound decisions. All of ECO3's services are built on a foundation of innovative thinking and a transparent process that allows clients to achieve their sustainable building goals.

On their website, they provided an article from 1 JUL 08 on a variety of the incentives available to Existing Buildings in Toronto.

Enbridge Energy Audit Incentive

Applicable Region & Building Type(s): Toronto. Applicable to commercial and Multi-Unit Residential.

Incentive:

1. The incentive is provided for the undertaking of an energy audit and is in the value of the lesser of the following:
2. $0.01/m3 of the most recent calendar year’s natural gas consumption, or,
3. 1/2 of the cost of the audit up to $5000, or,
4. 1/3 of the cost of the audit up to $5000 if the customer is receiving audit incentives from other sources.

Notes and Further Info: Click Here. At a minimum the audit must address HVAC systems, controls, energy consumption and energy intensity, energy and water savings, opportunities for energy conservation, and fuel conversion opportunities to Natural Gas.

Natural Resource Canada (NRCan) ecoEnergy Retrofit Incentive for Buildings

Applicable Region & Building Type(s): Toronto. Applicable to residential, commercial, public, and industrial buildings.

Incentive:

1. $10/GJ of estimated energy savings up to a maximum of $50,000.

Notes and Further Info: Click Here.

Ontario Power Authority (OPA) Electrical Retrofit Incentive Program (ERIP)

Applicable Region & Building Type(s): Toronto. Applicable to all building types.

Incentive:

1. $150/kW in peak demand reduction.

Notes and Further Info: Click Here

Peak reductions can be demonstrated by implementing prescriptive measures or by verifying peak demand reduction through energy simulations and/or building audits.


BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association) Toronto Conservation and Demand Management

Applicable Region & Building Type(s): Toronto. Applicable to commercial buildings over 25,000 sq.ft.

Incentive:

1. $400/kW in peak summer demand reduction, or,
2. $0.05/kWh annual energy savings.

Notes and Further Info: Click Here

Projects must complete the BOMA Go Green assessment tool. This incentive cannot be combined with the OPA ERIP.


City of Toronto Low-flow Toilet Rebate

Applicable Region & Building Type(s): Toronto.

Applicable to residential buildings.

Incentive:
1. $60 per 6L Single Flush toilet installed.
2. $75 per high efficiency toilet 4.8L or less installed
3. $150 per rear-exit 6L or less toilet installed.

Notes and Further Info: Click Here

Sustainable Energy Funds

Applicable Region & Building Type(s): Toronto. Municipal, academic, social service, or healthcare projects.

Incentive:

1. Loans at 0% interest to a maximum of $1,000,000 or 49% of construction costs.

Notes and Further Info: Projects are considered on a case by case analysis and must present a feasibility study and outlining the project’s potential to demonstrate environmental, social, and economic benefits resulting from the loan. CLICK HERE for more.


Ontario’s Standard Offer Program for Renewable Energy Production

Applicable Region & Building Type(s): Ontario. All building and project types.

Incentive:
1. $0.42/kWh, for photovoltaic installations, and,
2. $0.11/kWh, for other renewable power production.

Notes and Further Info: CLICK HERE

Solar Energy Retail Tax Rebate

Applicable Region & Building Type(s): Ontario. Residential buildings.

Incentive:

1. Refund of Provincial sales tax paid for the installation of solar energy systems.

Notes and Further Info: CLICK HERE

ecoEnergy for Renewable Heat

Applicable Region & Building Type(s): Canada. Industrial, commercial, and institutional projects.

Incentive:

1. 25% of the purchase, installation and other costs of qualifying renewable heat systems (typically solar thermal) up to a maximum of $80,000.

Notes and Further Info: CLICK HERE

ecoEnergy for Renewable Power

Applicable Region & Building Type(s): Canada. All building and project types.

Incentive:

1. $0.01/kWh for renewable power generation over a period of 10 years.

Notes and Further Info: Qualifying systems must be 1 MW or greater in peak capacity. Typical power generation systems are PhotoVoltaic (PV) and wind although renewable biomass systems for combined heat and power generation may be eligible. CLICK HERE

City of Toronto Residential Washer Rebate

Applicable Region & Building Type(s): Toronto. Residential unit owners (home/apartment/condo) only.

Incentive:

1. $60 per high-efficiency clothes washer purchases.

Notes and Further Info: CLICK HERE


City of Toronto Commercial Washer Rebate

Applicable Region & Building Type(s): Toronto. All projects requiring commercial washer equipment.

Incentive:

1. $100 per leased machine, and $125 per per purchased machine. CLICK HERE

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Energy question for Federal Candidates

Post Carbon Toronto members have been asking their candidates the following question:
Surprisingly, even though Canada is a net oil exporter, Canada imports almost half our daily oil needs from Iraq, Algeria and other far away countries. In addition the design of our pipeline and refinery system means that millions of Eastern Canadians cannot access Canadian oil no matter what the circumstances. This leaves millions of Canadians exposed to disruptions on the world oil market.




What would your party do to erase these infrastructure deficits and ensure Canadian energy security?

Watch this blog for their responses!

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World Map of Oil Decline

This video excerpt on YouTube of Post Carbon Toronto chair Randy Park speaking at a conference about Peak Oil has now been viewed over 27,000 times. It shows an animated map of oil production, decline, and consumption for the past 40 years.
World Map of Oil decline

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Post Carbon Toronto on CityNews.ca

Post Carbon Toronto chair Randy Park was interviewed by CityNews.ca last week. See his comments and video at:

www.citynews.ca/news/news_27572.aspx

which also has more discussion on energy decline and what you can do.

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