The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is conducting a research program on fossil-fuel subsidies as part of its Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI).

We are currently welcoming proposals for a case study on subsidies to the petroleum industry in Canada. The report will form part of a series researching subsidies to specific energy sectors in both developing and developed countries. Its aim is to provide valuable input to the GSI's ongoing work to build a global picture of the size and scale of fossil-fuel subsidies with a view to promoting subsidy reform.

The focus for the research is conventional and non-conventional petroleum industries in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland.

The study will:

1. identify and classify the types of subsidies that the industry receives;
    
2. identify data gaps and areas where transparency could be improved;
    
3. quantify the subsidies identified;
    
4. assess which subsidies cause the most significant economic, environmental or social impacts; and,
    
5. develop a range of policy recommendations to improve the transparency and reporting of subsidies and to reform the most harmful subsidies.

The GSI anticipates an in-country launch of the report, which would include a presentation of the report's key findings to government representatives, industry and other important stakeholders. It will be published on-line and in hard copy, and disseminated to a wide network of stakeholders through a variety of channels.

The deadline for submitting proposals is 21 December 2009.

The full call for proposals can be downloaded electronically here.

The contact for this project is:

Kerryn Lang 
Research Officer, Global Subsidies Initiative
International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
E-mail: klang@iisd.org
Telephone: +41 22 917 8920