School of Public Policy

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The School of Public Policy is Canada’s leading policy school. The School was founded in 2008 by renowned economist Jack Mintz with a vision to drive policy discourse with relevant research, outreach and teaching. Its faculty is composed of scholars with exceptional academic credentials and experienced practitioners in business, government and the non-profit sector.

School of Public Policy

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Open Access
A look at policy surrounding long-term neurorehabilitation for people with acquired brain injury in Alberta
(2018-09-11) Ryan, Shrianne; Zwicker, Jennifer
In Alberta, there is an inadequate amount of community and outpatient neurorehabilitation services available to support the growing number of individuals who suffer from acquired brain injury (ABI). ABI is an injury to the brain that is not hereditary, congenital, degenerative, or induced by birth trauma. Many individuals with ABI become dependent on costly health and social services, resulting in high-expenses for Alberta. Even though ABI is a growing concern for Alberta, no provincial policy strategy has been put in place to ensure Albertan’s get timely access to community and outpatient rehabilitation programs after being discharged from acute care and inpatient rehabilitation. Instead, many individuals either wait a long time before being admitted to important rehabilitation programs or they never receive treatment at all. A reason for a lack of policy can be attributed to how there is limited research in Alberta that looks at the overall benefits of community-based neurorehabilitation programs. Therefore, the overall policy recommendation is that the provincial government should establish a comprehensive and province-wide study that looks at the effectiveness and benefits associated with community neurorehabilitation programs in Alberta. To accomplish this study, Alberta should fund additional community neurorehabilitation programs to the ones already in existence so that more individuals with ABI can be included. The results of this study came from the analysis of data from a rehabilitation centre located in Alberta called the Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injury (ARBI). The purpose of the analysis was to determine if there was an overall significant improvement for clients in terms of health outcomes and quality of life after undertaking community neurorehabilitation. In addition to improved health outcomes, cost of care based on place of residence at admission, discharge and follow-up was analyzed to determine if rehabilitation is a cost-effective solution to the growing ABI health crisis. First, the costs of care were determined by looking at the costs associated with four different residence categories including one’s own home, the hospital and two living support services under Alberta’s continuing care system for individuals with ABI. These living support services include personal care home (PCH) and long-term care (LTC). The costliest place of residence was determined to be the hospital, followed by LTC, PCH and own-home in that order. Depending on the severity of disability, individuals may need more support and thus reside in a more expensive place of residence, proving costly for Alberta. Next, the cost of care data was analyzed by comparing two different cases, case 1 and case 2. Case 1 represented client’s undergoing rehabilitation at ARBI and case 2 represented the situation where clients did not go to ARBI. First, the two cases were compared to see if there was statistical significance, and then the calculated difference between case 1 and case 2 was compared to the cost of rehabilitation at ARBI. The results of this study found there to be both a clinically significant and statistically significant improvement for client’s in different areas of impairment, suggesting that community neurorehabilitation positively improves health and social outcomes for individuals with ABI. Additionally, the cost of care results found there to be positive cost savings associated with undergoing rehabilitation at ARBI. The total cost of case 1 and case 2 was calculated to be $11,377,800 and $17,980,950.00, respectively for an overall cost savings of $6,603,150.00 or $194,210.29 per person over 65 months. When the cost of ARBI was added to case 1, there was still an overall cost savings of $5,637,550.00, or $165,810.29 per person over 65 months. Overall, the results of this study indicate that the Government of Alberta only needs to help a few individuals through neurorehabilitation programs like ARBI to experience substantial gains. Therefore, the overall policy recommendation is based on the results of this study, as well as from other research studies, that found community neurorehabilitation to be a critical next step in the recovery of individuals with ABI. Community neurorehabilitation is a multidisciplinary approach that combines specialized clinical and social supports to deliver an individualized and evidence-based pathway of care. ABI can have a lot of different negative impacts on an individual, and so a multidisciplinary approach is important. This study, along with other research has shown that timely access to equitable and intensive multidisciplinary neurorehabilitation services can improve patient outcomes and quality of life while also reducing an individual’s reliance on health and social services. Therefore, the overall policy recommendation is based on how Alberta needs to take more action to fully understand how to best help individuals with ABI while also reducing the burden on government health and social services.
Open Access
Aboriginal Employment in the Alberta Oil Sands: Success and Barriers to Success
(2013-09) Jose, J. Susan; Flanagan, Thomas
As the baby boomer generation retires from the workforce, the current shortage of skilled workers is expected to increase dramatically. Alberta’s oil sands will experience those shortages intensely, especially as the Temporary Foreign Workers program, responsible for a significant amount of oil sands labour, reduces the number of available workers further still. As investment in oil sands development increases, so do the number of jobs, in contrast to a decreasing labour pool. Yet the Aboriginal population is both growing and younger than the non-Aboriginal population, and the time is right to increase Aboriginal representation in the workforce, for everyone’s benefit. The purpose of this paper is to identify differences in employment practices between successful Aboriginal employers and non-Aboriginal employers, and determine if those differences support successful employment or not. The methodology used was qualitative analysis based on a case study of Cold Lake First Nations. Although a small convenience sample, the data gathered provided a personal and honest, first-hand view, through an Aboriginal perspective. Data was gathered from various stakeholders, including energy companies, successful First Nations employers, First Nations workers and a First Nations employment and training agency. Analysis considered Aboriginal education and funding, Budget 2013 financial allocations to Aboriginal communities, employment sustainability within communities, and First Nations consultation and collaboration. Results found three significant differences in hiring practices between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal employers which currently favor Aboriginal employers for the Aboriginal worker. Should energy companies wish to increase Aboriginal representation in their workforce, recognition of these differences is critical.
Embargo
Aboriginal Migration, Economic Incentives, and Community Well-being: A Proposal
(2012-08) Chowdhury, Nazmul; Kneebone, Ronald
City Migration Patterns:Data indicate that migration is not a major determinant of Aboriginal population growth in major Canadian cities and provinces. As the reserves have experienced net in-migration of First Nations since 1966, increase in the affiliation of individuals to Aboriginal identity due to the legal changes by the Bill C-31 and C-3, and natural growth have been the major contributors to Aboriginal population growth in cities. Small urban areas and rural areas have been losing Aboriginal population overall. The percentage of Aboriginal population residing in cities has increased due the changes in legal frameworks and natural growth. Provincial Migration Patterns: Provincial migration is a small factor in the geographical distribution of Aboriginal population. However, there has been a clear trend among the Aboriginal peoples to move out of Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec to Alberta between 2001-2006. Statistics Canada projection indicates that Alberta may become the second largest home to Aboriginal populations by the end of 2017, following Ontario. Particularly, the Métis have been moving primarily to Alberta from all other provinces. Projection indicates that growth in the Aboriginal population in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan may relegate British Columbia to the fourth largest position for hosting Aboriginal populations from its current second. Ontario is expected to remain as the largest home to the Aboriginal population until the projection period of 2017. Migration and Impact: International studies indicate that migration is positively correlated with well-being in the community of origin. Similarly, study findings strongly suggest that migration is positively correlated with Aboriginal well-being; particularly higher out-migration is correlated with higher education and income among the First Nations in Canada. Since First Nations have had net in-migration to the reserves since the 1960s, the paper examines such trends by focusing on the relative economic incentives between on-reserve and off-reserve locations. Policy Recommendation: The paper recognizes that the current balance between on-reserve and off-reserve economic incentives may need to be adjusted for the greater well-being of First Nations. In order to offset the gap in economic incentives between on and off-reserve locations, the paper recommends a tax credit to off-reserve First Nations members for investing in the reserves. The credit may generate additional capital for economic growth in the reserves on the one hand, and offset any gap in economic incentives between on and off-reserve locations on the other. Such a credit may transform the growing urban Aboriginal population as a source of opportunities for the on-reserve communities and increase economic growth in the reserves that may allow the band councils to initiate taxation in the reserves in the long run.
Open Access
Academic, Political, and Community Engagement: Crafting Pandemic Preparedness Policies for Vulnerable Families
(2020-09-04) Kohek, Jessica Ann; Zwicker, Jennifer
To optimally support the health of families, interventions provided by community organizations must be evidence-based. Research attracts awareness to particular community issues; however, there is often a disconnect between research collection and subsequent translation into community-level policies. Evidence-based interventions may have proven efficiency, yet research rarely results in the political action necessary to translate interventions into community practices. When research does inform policies, and programs, the process can take decades. Implementation of evidence-based practices is necessary to mobilize research into practice and improve outcomes for families who rely on services. This project sought to identify the challenges community organizations face in accessing and providing evidence-based services, as these services promote optimal outcomes for families. COVID-19, as a focusing event, has highlighted pre-existing political, economic, and structural impediments to knowledge mobilization. The barriers and solutions proposed by participants in the research have pre-existed, but been exacerbated by, the context of a pandemic. Prior to conducting research, a literature review informed the need for increased support, communication, and funding for community organizations. The Nominal Group Technique (NGT) was used after the literature review was conducted to contextualize this need in Calgary. Five NGT groups were held over the course of two weeks to generate ideas surrounding barriers to evidence-based service provision throughout COVID-19, as well as solutions that have the potential to address aforementioned challenges. The three main barriers prioritized by participants included reduced revenue streams, transition to online service delivery, and inadequate communication and collaboration with government. Participants emphasized two solutions: person-centred policies and programs, and reciprocal collaboration. The literature and NGT groups result both support a need for cross-ministerial collaboration, community-based research partnerships, and engagement and consultation with community organizations. These findings are not novel or unique to COVID-19. Barriers mentioned preceded the pandemic, and solutions provided have continual impacts to support the health of families outside the context of a pandemic. Policy recommendations promote the priorities iterated by participants in the NGT groups. To address the barriers to evidence-based service provision throughout COVID-19, three policy options are recommended: (1) education and consultation with community organizations, (2) subsidy and grant provision for community-based research, and (3) formalizing a local network of researchers, community organizations, and policymakers. Next steps include validating the results of this study with an online Delphi and conducting a multijurisdictional environmental scan to determine best practices to support families with evidence-based service.
Open Access
Accelerating Energy Grid Modernization in Canada: Reasons and Recommendations for Canadian Smart Grid Development
(2021-08) Magnaye, J.; Shaffer, B.
Open Access
Addressing Misleading Nutrition Marketing on Children's Foods
(2013-08) Veit, Christine; Emery, Herb
Childhood obesity is a complex issue with many contributing factors. Today, children live in an obesogenic environment that promotes the consumption calorie dense foods high in sugar, fat, and sodium. While much of the previous research has focused on linking the consumption of junk foods to obesity, an important area that has been overlooked until recently is how regular children’s foods are contributing to the childhood obesity epidemic. Today, a large proportion of children’s foods are being marketed with nutrition claims, health claims, and industry generated front-of-package nutrition logos despite the fact that they contain high levels, of sugar, fat, and sodium. A study by Elliott (2008) found that 89% of the children’s foods in Canadian grocery stores were marketed with nutrition and health claims, yet 63% of them could be classified “as of poor nutritional quality” due to their high levels of sugar, fat, and sodium. Similarly, a study by Colby (2010) examining a large sample of foods in the US found that 42% of children’s foods contained both nutrition marketing and high levels of saturated fat, sugar, and sodium. These regular foods which include granola bars, breakfast cereals, fruit leathers, and yogourts are often marketed with claims such as ‘excellent source of calcium’, ‘reduced fat’, and ‘made with real fruit juice’ in large font on the front of the packaging of children’s foods in order to appeal to parents. Claims that prominently single out one nutrient in large bold font of the front of a food package in a nutritionally inferior product high in sugar, fat, and sodium could be construed as misleading advertisement. The misleading information conveyed by claims on children’s food packaging can be framed as a problem of information asymmetry. Foods boldly displaying large nutrition claims that draw attention one nutrient in an otherwise unhealthy product interfere with parents’ ability to accurately judge the nutritional quality of the foods they are purchasing for their children. As a result, many uninformed parents swayed by health and nutrition claims may end up purchasing foods for their children that are high in sugar, fat, and salt. Regulated nutrition and health claims as well as unregulated industry generated nutrition logos constitute the two main sources of information asymmetry. Although the Food and Drugs Regulations lay out specific criteria for the use of nutrition and health claims, it falls short in two major areas: it does not prohibit foods high in sugar, fat, and sodium from carrying health or nutrition claims, nor does it prohibit food manufacturers from displaying their own unregulated nutrition logos on the front of children’s food packages. As a result, food manufacturers are free to continue aggressively marketing their unhealthy foods to parents with important consequences for children’s weight and their future health.
Open Access
Addressing the Externalities of Food Waste Generated Within the Retail Food Market
(2017-09-05) Boda, Kirsten; Kneebone, R. D.
An oversupply of food within the retail food market has led to high levels of food waste which generates various negative externalities. These externalities include the release of harmful greenhouse gasses, the foregone opportunity to divert food, and foregone cost savings to retailers. Thus, this paper explores the effectiveness of various public policy responses to the market-based incentives that are resulting in food waste within the retail food market. There is a current global trend towards government involvement in reducing food waste. However, Canada's existing regulations and guidelines simply aim to encourage retailers to donate excess food rather than directly regulate food waste. Conversely, local government efforts have focused mainly on reducing landfill use through compost and diversion programs. As a result, present food waste initiatives throughout Canada consist of a patchwork of policies and programs, while the appropriate role of government has remained relatively unexplored. In addition to disorganized initiatives, food waste policy in Canada has centered on influencing consumer behaviour rather than retailer behaviour. However, the retail food market is an important piece of the food supply chain that creates avoidable food waste. Although, current research indicates that numerous challenges exist for reducing food waste within the retail food market, it is essential that this sector is included in a comprehensive food waste reduction program. Thus, policy-makers are faced with the challenge of developing an appropriate policy response to the growing levels of food waste specifically within the retail food market. This paper uses a model of supply and demand to develop a conceptual model in order to explain why there is an oversupply of food within the retail food market and discuss the various policy responses governments can use to combat this waste. The policies explored include a tax on food waste, a subsidy to encourage the donation of food, and educational policy. The model demonstrates that retailers choose to maintain fully stocked shelves in order to receive a higher price from consumers, which results in food waste. Therefore, to reduce food waste in the retail food market, policy-makers must aim to increase the cost for retailers to maintain fully stocked shelves until the cost outweighs the benefit. Thus, while a subsidy and education can encourage the diversion and reduction of food waste, a tax is the most effective policy response to food waste because it forces retailers to internalize the cost of the negative externalities of food waste.
Open Access
Adopting Open Banking in Canada: An Analysis of Current Global Frameworks
(2020-09-14) Taylor-Kerr, Andrew James; Beaulieu, Eugene
Financial technology or fintech is a rapidly evolving and disruptive development within the financial sector. New technologies arising from fintech innovations are changing how consumers access and utilize financial services while also allowing new fintech firms to compete within the financial sector. As fintech innovations proliferate throughout the financial sector benefits are being seen globally from growing financial inclusion, increased access to capital for small and medium enterprises and improved operational efficiencies for financial firms. Developments from fintech innovations do come with potential drawbacks that regulators are working to address. Fintech has the potential to adversely affect banking sector stability and presents increased cyber-attack risks that adversely affect firms and consumers, requiring regulators to adapt in response to these issues. One regulatory response that has gained traction globally for its ability to harness fintech competition and innovation while maintaining a more secure and stable financial system is that of open banking. Open banking is a regulatory approach that allows consumers to opt in and opt out of sharing their personal financial data with financial firms. Open banking also creates opportunities for more secure transfers of personal financial data by discouraging a data collection practice known as ‘screen-scrapping’, currently utilized by fintech firms, by allowing them to collect personal financial data through more secure application programming interfaces (API). With the permission of the consumer open banking frameworks usually obligate firms to transfer personal financial data via API to another firm who then utilize that data to develop consumer-centric products for customers. Canada, praised globally for the security and stability of its financial system, has been slow in developing an open banking framework and is now at risk of being left behind jurisdictions that have chosen to harness the competition, cyber-security and innovation advantages open banking can bring. To aid Canada in developing an effective open banking framework this capstone examines the regulatory approaches to open banking that have been developed in several jurisdictions including the U.S. and EU. A comparative analysis is conducted to identify what aspects of current regulatory approaches to open banking Canada can utilize in developing its own successful open banking framework. It is concluded that Canada should build on the strengths of its secure and stable financial system to become a ‘fast follower’ in developing an open banking framework that will enable it to attract further fintech investment and transform itself into a global leader in fintech innovation. Based on the comparative analysis of open banking frameworks several jurisdictions have developed the following recommendations are made to ensure Canada’s prospective open banking framework will enable it to become a global fintech leader:
Open Access
Advanced Training for Healthcare Aides: A Solution for the Sustainability of Canada's Healthcare System in the Face of an Aging Population
(2017-09-15) Ledoux, Lisa; Kneebone, R. D.
This paper examines senior citizen demographics in Canada, their impact on the healthcare system, and what can be done to minimize the strain on public finances, of providing seniors with the best quality of care possible. The paper examines statistics surrounding senior healthcare usage, future projected usage, the complex health issues that ail seniors, and how advanced training for healthcare aide workers can address cost issues, health provision, disease, mental illness, and injury prevention through education, advocacy and an increased physical presence. The paper proposes changes and amendments to the current healthcare aide curriculum. Information on the current certification requirements are provided, as well as components of the competency profile used to design the healthcare aide program, followed by the recommended changes. Evidence is provided as to why advanced healthcare aide training is the best option for governments to choose when considering the options needed to keep the public healthcare system sustainable, efficient, and innovative, as opposed to maintaining the status quo.
Open Access
Age-friendly Cities and Calgary: Evaluating for Success
(2013-04) Anderson, Miranda; Brodie, Ian
The demographic bubble represented by the Baby Boomer generation is beginning to graduate into that stage of life known as senior citizenry and, as such, there will be a shift in the overall distribution of the global population from a majority of young people to a majority of older people. By 202, there will for the first time be more old people than there are young people in the world. The City of Calgary, however, lags far behind many other cities in Canada and in the world in terms of preparation for this change.
Open Access
Alberta 2007 Royalty Review: The Negative Impact on Labour Compensation and Investment
(2016-01) Otogwu, Chidom Douglas; Dahlby, Bev
The question to whether the 2007 royalty review in Alberta achieved its intended goal is one that was already answered by the government's decision to make adjustments to its response to the 2007 Panel's recommendations. However, the 2010 review did not show the areas and amount of loss Albertans incurred as a result of the 2007 royalty increase. This study, focusing on the oil sector, gives an estimate of the amount of wastes the 2007 royalty rate changes caused in the province through its impact on the oil and gas sector. The 2007 royalty increase caused a significant reduction in total workers' compensation and investment in the oil and gas sector.
Open Access
Alberta Beef Consumer Confidence - Analysis of the Alberta Beef Market
(2015-09) Eakins, Alex; Mintz, Jack
This capstone project aims to examine consumer confidence in the Canadian beef industry, specifically within the Alberta Beef market. Beef demand continues to increase alongside safety recalls by the Canadian government, drawing attention to the quality of the process. This report identifies what the market issues are and what policy suggestions can be made in order to improve confidence in the market. The research draws attention to two different areas- labeling for consumer transparency and implications of the cow/beef life cycle. Through in-depth interviews with industry leaders as well as current ranchers, it was found that government interaction is not always a necessary step in building consumer confidence and safety in the market. Two policy routes are recommended in improving confidence in the market; further automation and control at the beef processing stage and transparency marketing tactics in order to expose consumers to the decision making process.
Open Access
Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund: Securing Alberta's Future
(2013-09) Dhah, Harleen; Mansell, Robert
Alberta has an abundance of natural resource wealth. In recent decades the oil and gas component of the resource sector has accounted for a large proportion of the provincial government’s total revenue and, directly and indirectly, accounted for approximately half of total economic activity within the province. It has also made significant contributions to the economic growth in Alberta, allowing the province to have a high level of public services and a competitive tax regime that has further contributed to economic growth. The substantial non-renewable resource revenues (NRRRs) generated by the oil and gas sector are volatile and subject to decline over the long term. Along with resource depletion there are many risks to the sustainability of NRRRs arising from shifting energy markets, prices and costs, constraints in access to new markets and numerous environmental challenges. Given this, Alberta will need to save a higher proportion of its NRRRs in order to sustain prosperity and meet intergenerational equity objectives. Alberta’s current NRRR savings plan, the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund (AHSTF) has not been as successful as originally envisioned. With only sporadic contributions from resource revenues, a lack of inflation proofing and frequent withdrawals of fund earnings to support government budget shortfalls, the real (or inflation adjusted) value of the fund per-person has fallen sharply since the early 1980s. In comparison there are other similar funds that have performed much better. Two, which provide an interesting contrast, are Norway’s Government Pension Fund—Global, and Alaska’s Permanent Fund. A comparative analysis of the their approaches applied to an Alberta context can provide useful policy direction in changing the AHSTF to better serve the objectives of sustainable prosperity and intergenerational equity for Alberta.
Open Access
Alberta in the Age of Renewable Power: Policy Lessons from Germany and Sweden
(2019-09-03) Anderson, ALyssa; Winter, Jennifer
In an increasingly carbon-constrained society, governments across the world have designed policies to support the development of renewable electricity. In particular, Germany and Sweden are world leaders in the development of renewable electricity. In contrast, the province of Alberta has limited experience creating a policy environment that encourages renewable electricity generation. This capstone project explores the policy lessons that Alberta can take from Germany and Sweden to foster the development of renewable electricity. By incorporating lessons learned from Germany and Sweden, the Alberta government could adopt new policies that increase the proportion of electricity derived from renewable sources. This paper is arranged into four chapters. The first chapter provides an overview of Alberta, Sweden, and Germany’s past and present renewable electricity policies. The second chapter analyzes each jurisdiction’s current policy according to four criteria: 1) effectiveness, as quantified through the compound annual growth rate in renewable electricity capacity or generation; 2) diversity of actors, as evaluated through any special provisions that promote the participation of companies of varying sizes; 3) diversity of technologies, through an analysis of the number of renewable technologies able to secure support under each program; and 4) each program’s impact on household electricity costs, as measured by the compound annual growth rate in the size of the electricity surcharge as a share of household electricity costs/kWh. The third chapter compares public acceptance of renewable energy in each region through an analysis of public opinion polls. Finally, the fourth chapter summarizes the policy lessons Alberta can take from Germany and Sweden to foster the development of renewable electricity. There are four lessons Alberta can take from Germany and Sweden. First, as seen in Germany, the government's ability to anticipate changes required to integrate renewables into the electricity grid may limit the effectiveness of Alberta's future renewable policy. Second, the Alberta government could improve future policy by making special provisions to promote a diversity of actors; however, Alberta can learn from the overwhelming participation of small actors in Germany’s auctions by limiting their future provisions to those that provide a level playing field for all actors. Third, for Alberta to encourage a diverse range of technologies while still promoting the most cost-effective electricity production, the province could implement a technology-neutral policy first (as seen in Sweden), followed by a transition to a technology-specific policy (as seen in Germany). Lastly, if Alberta strives to become a large-scale producer of renewable electricity, it may have to impose an electricity surcharge on consumers; however, it is likely the surcharge will stabilize as Alberta’s renewable sector matures, as seen in Germany and Sweden. In brief, this capstone provides the foundational knowledge required to understand renewable electricity policy in Alberta, Sweden, and Germany. This paper also offers specific policy lessons that Alberta may apply to keep pace with the global push towards a clean and renewable power sector.
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The Alberta Oil Sands: Factors of Risk Perception and Outrage
(2012-09) Simpson, Catherine; Mansell, Robert
Every major project has some associated environmental, health and safety hazards and this is equally true for major energy projects. Environmental impact assessments, cost-benefit analysis and economic projections are tools used by regulators to determine the acceptability of hazards. Sometimes, however, the risks the public perceives to be associated with a given project are disproportionate to the actual hazards that exist. Peter Sandman uses the term outrage to characterize the verbal opposition, expressions of concern and political activism that occur as a result of inflated risk perception. Public outrage can create reputational challenges for projects, challenging their social licence to operate, delaying approval processes and slowing economic growth, despite regulatory approvals to ensure technical, health and safety. While much of the risk perception literature is applicable to the benefits of major projects, this paper will focus solely on the real and perceived environmental, health and safety costs. Any conversation around risk communication must acknowledge that public outrage can often lead to better project outcomes,, can be quite legitimate and is always important. Citizens have every right to be concerned and interested in any activity of both private and public undertaking that impacts their environment, health or social wellbeing. Public opinion is a crucial check and balance to industrial profit maximizing and corporate interests. However, the correlation between actual hazard and public outrage is remarkably weak. If a list of hazards is rank-ordered by "expected annual mortality ... and then rank-ordered (again) by how upsetting the various risks are to people, the correlation between the two rank-orders would be approximately 0.2". Such a weak correlation between actual hazard and public outrage makes it possible to manipulate public outrage, amplifying or attenuating it to suit a certain preference. Disproportionate risk perceptions confound rational, responsible decision making and challenge the development of good public policy. Assuming that "the oil sands have a reputational crisis not an environmental one", why do the oil sands provoke such outrage?3 What can be done to subdue public concern to a level that more appropriately befits the hazard level in order to facilitate improved policy discussions?
Open Access
Alberta Water Resources, Policies, Legislation and Goals: The Quest to Awaken "Sleeper Rights"
(2014-09) Aseniero, Faye Ann; Morton, F.L.
Water is arguably the most critical natural resource to Alberta’s future. The quantity and quality of water will shape the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of Alberta’s future. The quality of life in Alberta will depend on our ability to allocate this finite resource in both an efficient and environmentally responsible manner. The issue addressed in this research is how Alberta’s current water policies manage “sleeper rights” and why these policies need to be updated. Sleeper rights describe water licenses that are allocated to a water user but are not fully utilized. This allocated but under-utilized water is important because it helps Alberta’s major watersheds to meet its instream flow needs (IFNs). IFNs refer to the amount of water that aquatic ecosystems require to provide Albertans with safe and secure drinking water; healthy aquatic ecosystems; and reliable quality water supplies. By the end of 2005, the Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (AESRD) had allocated approximately 9.5 billion cubic metres of water throughout Alberta. By the end of 2010, this had increased to 9.9 billion cubic metres. The three sectors representing the highest water demands and allocations in Alberta are the agricultural sector (44.3%), commercial sector (29.5%), and municipal/ domestic sector (11.3%). However, not all of these allocations are fully utilized. By some estimates, as much as 45 percent of water allocated under license in Alberta remains unused.
Embargo
The Alberta Wetland Project: A Toolbox with only One Tool
(2016-09) Lorimer, Rachel; Moore, Michael
Wetlands are a crucial component of a watershed system: their ability to act as a buffer against flood and drought are economically and socially important for communities. Alberta historically included approximately 20% of its total area as wetlands, but over time a substantial fraction have been lost to urban, industrial, and agricultural development. Plans, strategies, policies, and legislation (acts) have all been developed to protect this natural resource but they are not always effective. The Alberta Wetland Policy was developed to mitigate wetland destruction in the province, however, there still remain a number of concerns about how the policy will ensure environmental protection to sustain them. The documents and concepts used in the current decision-making process do not always offer a successful prescriptive system for achieving long-term wetland conservation.
Open Access
Alberta's Carbon Policy: A Work in Progress
(2013-09) Hume, David; Mintz, Jack
Alberta’s current carbon abatement policies have not achieved the goals set out by the provincial government’s climate change strategy. With the legislation expiring next year, a new policy must be introduced to help improve Alberta’s environmental stewardship. What has recently begun to be talked about is increasing the current 15$ penalty levy to 40$ and increasing emissions reductions from 12% to 40%. This is a move in the right direction but if it will be enough to help the government achieve their goals and what the impact on the industry will be is still uncertain. By closer examining the current Alberta levy, looking at other carbon policies from around the world and assessing any new proposal through the tax criteria’s of efficiency, administration costs and comprehensibility and compliance costs, one can better evaluate the potential impact of an increase to the current Alberta carbon reduction strategy.
Open Access
Alberta's end-of-life Oil and Gas Liabilities
(2016-08) de Beer, Helene M. E.; Moore, Michael
Oil & gas end-of-life liabilities exist in different forms in Alberta. There are real liabilities that we can see, touch and count, in the form of rusting wellheads and pump jacks left in farmers' fields. There are future liabilities that we can anticipate; these exist largely in the form of currently producing wells that one day need to be abandoned and reclaimed once they stop being profitable. Last but not least there are the invisible liabilities, typically unpredictable, in the form of already abandoned and reclaimed well sites (also known as legacy sites). These could start leaking years after abandonment resulting in contamination of soil or groundwater. Irrespective of their form, oil & gas liabilities have the same three risks: financial risks (is there enough money for closure?), environmental risks (what is the impact on soil, water and wildlife?) and social-economic risks (what are the lost opportunities for our natural resources?).
Embargo
Alberta's Energy Challenges in 2013
(2013-09) Wiedman, Nicole; Morton, Ted
The energy challenges that Alberta faces today are different from those addressed in the 2008 Government's Plan, Launching Alberta's Energy Future: Provincial Energy Strategy (the "2008 Plan"). This project analyzes the differences between the current economic reality for Alberta energy and the economic assumptions underpinning the 2008 Plan and proposes a new policy for the Province. Due to the 2008 recession and its impact on the price of oil and the technological advances of fracking resulting in an oversupply of natural gas, many of the 2008 tools are less economically efficient. These policies need to be updated to be aligned with the current economic reality. The policy recommendations include: a new greenhouse gas strategy; a focus on market diversification to achieve greater market access; and a comprehensive public relations program to refute the increasing environmental challenges arising from misconceptions surrounding oil sand resource development; and lack of transportation infrastructure for oil sand products.