Highlights from Crestview Strategy’s weekly newsletters:
Atlantic Canada
PEI Premier Dennis King has made a number of changes to the province’s Senior Management Team following the departure of former Clerk of the Executive Council Dan Campbell, former Deputy Clerk Pam Trainor, and former Deputy Minister of Education Bethany MacLeod. Mr. Campbell is taking on a new role as Chief Executive Officer of the Workers Compensation Board of PEI, while Ms. MacLeod will be joining Holland College, and Ms. Trainor will be joining UPEI to provide strategic support to the Board of Governors. Former acting CEO of Finance PEI, Jamie Aiken, will serve as the new Clerk of Executive Council and Secretary to Cabinet.
Alberta
‘Will not be implemented’: Alberta pushes back against Ottawa’s new clean energy regulations
The Alberta government has promised to “chart its own path” following the release of the federal government’s proposed clean energy regulations on Thursday. Premier Smith called the draft regulations, which propose to create a Canada-wide net-zero power grid by 2035, unconstitutional and irresponsible, saying that they would jeopardize the reliability of the province’s power grid and lead to higher electricity costs. She stated firmly that they would not be implemented in the province. While the province is willing to find common ground with Ottawa on the issue, Smith has committed to take an Alberta-specific approach to electricity should the two governments fail to reach a consensus. Other provinces, including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, have also stated that achieving the 2035 target will not be possible. The regulations are not yet finalized, pending the results of a 75-day consultation period. The final regulations are expected sometime in 2024.
British Columbia
“Metro Vancouver’s industry land shortage to cause ‘massive’ economic consequences,” say industry experts
In a two-part series last week, Business in Vancouver dove into the issue of a lack of industrial land in the province and its potential negative knock-on effects to the future economy.
Chris MacCauley, executive vice-president at commercial real estate company CBRE, estimates that the Vancouver port alone needs 607 hectares (1,500 acres) of land over the next decade.
“We simply don’t have 1,500 acres of industrial land in Vancouver,” said MacCauley.
“And that’s just what the port needs, that doesn’t even take into account what our local industrial needs are, other things that are not port related, new entrants coming to the market or existing companies that need to expand. You have many stakeholders at the table looking for a piece of the pie and there’s no pie.”
The port authority’s approach to its land shortage issue focuses on four pillars: Advocacy, optimizing existing land uses, creating land and acquiring land, according to Jennifer Natland, vice-president of real estate at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
Ontario
Province Introduces Credit and Debit Payments for TTC Transit on August 15
The Ontario government has announced it is enabling Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) riders to pay for transit fares using credit or debit cards, including those on smartphones and smartwatches, beginning on Tuesday. This initiative follows successful implementations across various local transit systems in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Areas aiming to simplify the transit experience. Metrolinx is also working with PRESTO to introduce virtual cards for mobile wallets later this year.
Ottawa
Canada ‘absolutely’ can’t build more houses without more immigrants, minister says – August 11, 2023
Canada’s housing crisis “absolutely cannot” be solved without the aid of new immigrants who bring their skills here, Immigration Minister Marc Miller told reporters on Friday. Miller was asked by reporters if he was considering slashing Canada’s immigration targets, which are currently at historic highs, in response to a recent Bank of Canada report that new immigrants are adding to housing demand. The minister said he was not.
Toronto
Mayor Olivia Chow unveils key committee appointments at Toronto City Hall – August 10, 2023
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has unveiled her team at City Hall, elevating some newcomers while drawing on the experience of some more seasoned councillors. Some of her appointments include rookie councillors Ausma Malik and Amber Morley as deputy mayors alongside more experienced councillors Jennifer McKelvie and Mike Colle, who will all sit on Chow’s Executive Committee. In addition, Councillor Gord Perks, who supported Chow’s bid for office, will become chair of the Planning and Housing Committee, while her mayoral rival Councillor Brad Bradford will be vice-chair.
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