Local governments across Canada are starting to look at rainwater through a new lens – as a resource that can be managed and harvested on site as opposed to a waste product that must be removed.

It is becoming clear that combining green infrastructure with existing grey infrastructure systems is a cost-effective option that provides a range of environmental and social benefits. It is also clear that stormwater management is a critical municipal service that requires a new funding approach that is dedicated, transparent and fair.
 

Friday, February 24, 2017
By Michelle Brownlee

Monday, February 13, 2017
By Sara Jane O’Neill

This post originally appeared in the RAIN Community Solutions Umbrella Stormwater Bulletin.

Monday, February 6, 2017
Guest post by Brendan Haley

My article titled Designing the public sector to promote sustainability transitions: Institutional principles and a case study of ARPA-E was recently published in the Journal Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions. The article tackles the issue of what kind of government is required to effectively promote clean technology innovations.

By William Scott

Never heard of a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)? That's okay. Neither have most survey respondents in British Columbia (BC), the only Canadian jurisdiction with one currently in place. Yet when the policy was explained, 90% of respondents supported it. This is likely due to an LCFS’s high greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction potential, ability to stimulate clean innovation, and relatively low cost to consumers.

Friday, February 3, 2017
By Michelle Brownlee

Good ideas are worth repeating.  And the Province of Ontario has found that green bonds are a good idea.  On January 26, 2017, Ontario issued its third green bond – its largest yet – a reopening of its 2016 bond amounting to $800 million. 

Friday, January 20, 2017
Guest post by Anthony Cotter

This guest blog is based on the paper “Valuing ecosystem services in the Columbia River Treaty” written by Anthony Cotter (Simon Fraser University) as partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Public Policy. This research project was supported by Smart Prosperity Institute (formerly Sustainable Prosperity)’s Research Network.

Tuesday, January 10, 2017
By Michelle Brownlee

 

December 21, 2016

 

A partial productivity measure relates output to a single input. Total factor productivity (or TFP) relates an index of output to a composite index of all inputs. This report discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each type of productivity measure from theoretical and methodological perspectives. Different productivity measures may be useful for different analytical purposes, and no single measure provides a complete picture of an industry's productivity performance.