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In the Media · The Globe and Mail

Provinces take the lead on climate policy. Should they?

Mar 23, 2015

greenhouse-gas

In the eyes of the Conservatives, climate change is a political issue to deal with gingerly. But according to the polls, that's not how Canadians feel.

Although Prime Minister Stephen Harper hasn't made any effort towards developing a national carbon price, provincial premiers are taking the lead and establishing their own climate policy.

Canadians, however, expect Ottawa to demonstrate leadership, not the provinces. Nik Nanos, chair of Nanos Research Group, has done recent polling on Canadian attitudes for The Globe and Mail and for a recent energy conference, Positive Energy, held jointly by the Ivey Energy Policy and Management Centre and University of Ottawa.

"Canadians expect the federal government to play a role and many Canadians believe it should play a leading role on these issues," Nanos said.