Positive Energy

Ian T. D. Thomson talks with Positive Energy Faculty Affiliates Professor Stephen Bird of Clarkson University and Professor Erick Lachapelle of the Université de Montréal. Their latest survey report, co-authored with Dr. Monica Gattinger, examines the extent of polarization over energy and environmental issues in Canada. This includes distinguishing between polarized and fragmented opinion on key topics like the national carbon tax, pipelines and energy transition. The survey assesses attitudes towards energy and environment across several demographic groupings, including political affiliation, region and age.

Ian T. D. Thomson continues his interview with Positive Energy Research Team member Duane Bratt, Professor and Chair of the Department of Economics, Justice, and Policy Studies at Mount Royal University. Dr. Bratt discusses the legacy of Alberta's Climate Leadership Plan (CLP), including its ongoing influence on federal climate policies. Positive Energy will publish Dr. Bratt’s case study in the coming weeks as part of its ‘What Works’ case study series exploring various efforts to address polarization over energy and climate.

Ian T. D. Thomson interviews Positive Energy Research Team member Duane Bratt, Professor and Chair of the Department of Economics, Justice, and Policy Studies at Mount Royal University. Dr. Bratt discusses the history of the Alberta Climate Leadership Plan (CLP): an ambitious policy program developed by the previous NDP government to address climate change in the oil and gas-rich province. Positive Energy will publish Dr. Bratt’s case study in the coming weeks as part of its ‘What Works’ case study series exploring various efforts to address polarization over energy and climate.

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Ian T. D. Thomson interviews Nik Nanos, Chair and CEO of Nanos Research and Chair of Positive Energy's Advisory Council. Mr. Nanos discusses two opinion surveys developed by Nanos Research in collaboration with Positive Energy. One survey examines Canadian public opinion on climate and energy issues; the other explores expert opinion on the topics.

Earlier this month, Positive Energy hosted a debate to examine and address polarization in Canadian politics, in particular its effects on energy decision-making. The question: Can Canada better meet its future energy, environmental, social and economic needs with large projects and system-wide approaches, or local projects and community approaches? The debate featured four experts with diverse and extensive experience on energy issues across Canada. Arguing for large projects and system-wide approaches were Mike Cleland, Senior Fellow with Positive Energy, and Shannon Joseph, Vice President of Government Relations for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. Arguing for local projects and community approaches were Chris Henderson, President of Lumos Energy, and Tonja Leach, Executive Director of Quality Urban Energy Systems of Tomorrow (QUEST). The debate was moderated by Shawn McCarthy, a journalist and Senior Counsel at Sussex Strategies. For more information on the December debate, please visit the Positive Energy website.

Today on the program, Nik Nanos’ keynote address from Positive Energy’s October 7th Conference is highlighted. Entitled “DIVIDED? Polarization and Canada’s Energy Future in an Age of Climate Change”, The conference convened senior leaders from business, government, Indigenous communities, civil society and the academy to examine and address polarization in Canadian politics, in particular its effects on energy decision-making.

Nik Nanos is the Chair and CEO of Nanos Research as well as Chair of the University of Ottawa’s Positive Energy Initiative. In his keynote, Mr. Nanos highlighted new survey research. This survey work - now available on Positive Energy’s website - examined public opinion as well as energy expert opinion on Canada’s energy and climate policies.

Video recordings of the keynote and of the other discussions from the conference, are available on ISSP UOttawa’s YouTube Channel.

Ian T. D. Thomson talks with Michael Cleland, Senior Fellow, Positive Energy, uOttawa, about his latest article for Energy Regulation Quarterly. Mr. Cleland discusses Canada’s climate change history, the importance of vocabulary used in Canada’s energy debate, and the evolving role of institutions in climate and energy policy. 

Read Mr. Cleland's piece, co-authored with Positive Energy Chair Monica Gattinger