Government to subsidize pipeline

 Rachel Doran, president and executive director of Clean Energy Canada, a think tank at Simon Fraser University, asks in an article in the Globe and Mail: “Is it really a good idea for the government to subsidize a pipeline?”

Decreasing Investment in Fossil Fuel in 2026

But while the share of private energy investment going into fossil fuels has slumped from 50 per cent to 28 per cent over the past decade, fossil fuels now receive about as much money from taxpayers through subsidies as they do from private investors, keeping their costs artificially lower.

Yes, oil is our biggest export, but its contribution to Canada’s GDP combined with gas was 3.8 per cent in 2025. All told, 56,000 Canadians worked directly in oil and gas extraction in 2025, compared with 108,000 in electric power generation, transmission and distribution, according to Statistics Canada. (Doran & Keller, 2026)

When the Government finances economic development there seem to be many mouths to feed. The trade-offs in seeking political support and voters before the next election call may sometimes fall into the category of “short term gain for long term pain”.

References

Doran, R., & Keller, T. (2026, October 1). Opinion: Is it really a good idea for the government to subsidize a pipeline? The Globe and Mail. Retrieved October 3, 2026, from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-is-it-a-good-idea-to-subsidize-the-west-coast-pipeline/? 

Canadian Housing Crisis

The Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative  (CHEC) is an independent, university-based research and knowledge mobilization organization that shares evidence, stimulates new research and advises on strategic evidence-informed action. CHEC brings together a network of more than 30 academics from across Canada and beyond who are engaged in independent, in-depth research exploring the connections between income, housing and health.

The pie chart below represents an unscientific allocation of a possible per cent contribution of each bullet point.

CHEC Causes of Housing Crisis (unscientific percents)

 CHEC explains that the rapid escalation in the cost of both home ownership and rental accommodation in Canada and around the world has a multitude of causes, some more important than others.

Fifteen bold bullet points from the web post “What caused the housing crisis?” are summarized below:

1. Low interest rates:

2. Increased money supply: 

3. Financialization of housing:

4. Failure to prepare for population increase:

5. Exit of government from affordable housing: 

6. Failure to protect existing affordable housing: 

7. Slow municipal approval process:

8. Bad forecasting housing inflation and student increases.

9. Cohort of wealthy homeowners who bid up prices.

10. Grow condos over rentals: 

11. Exclusive single-family Nimbyism: 

12. Failure to build new student housing: 

13. Money laundering illegal money: 

14. Foreign investors buying properties in Canada

15. Failure to develop approved properties 

(Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative, n.d.)

The pie chart represents an unscientific allocation of a possible per cent contribution of each bullet point. Consider how you would change the allocation of percentage to causes that would more accurately reflect the situation in your area based on your experience.

References

Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative. (n.d.). What caused the housing crisis. CHEC. Retrieved October 31, 2025, from https://chec-ccrl.ca/what-caused-the-housing-crisis/