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Energy Subsidies in Canada

The GSI program of work for Canada undertakes research and policy engagement on subsidies for fuel consumers and producers at the provincial and national level. It’s key focus is on identifying the scale of subsidie, and strategies for their reform and ultimate removal, in line with Canada’s commitments to the G7 and G20.

Research

Objectives
  • Reduce expenditure on fossil fuel subsidies that promote unsustainable environmental and social impacts
  • Reform subsidies to level the playing field for clean energy
  • Improve the fair social distribution of subsidy expenditure
  • Build a greater understanding of the scale of subsidies in Canada, and how these subsidies can be better allocated within the economy to benefit economic, environmental and social outcomes
Collaborations

 

In carrying forward this work the Global Subsidies Initiative has collaborated with a number of organizations including Equiterre, Oil Change International, Environmental Defence and Climate Action Network Canada.

Studies: OECD chastises Canada over farming policy

The Paris-based Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) criticizes a number of Canadian subsidy programmes, but particularly its support to farmers, in a new economic survey. In the last six years Canada has backtracked from earlier moves toward liberalizing its agricultural sector, to the detriment of most Canadian farmers, according to the OECD. 

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Studies: Think-tank estimates Canadian subsidies in 2004

A think-tank has estimated subsidies to Canadian businesses in 2004, and found that they more than doubled since 1995. The Fraser Institute calculates that some C$19 billion in subsidies was paid to businesses in 2004 (which was the last year for which data is available), up from C$ 10.3 billion in 1995.

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News: Canada launches largest WTO case ever against US farm subsidies

July 29, 2007
Canada has formally asked the World Trade Organization (WTO) to establish a panel to judge whether the United States has broken its commitments to limit agricultural subsides. Canada alleges that the US has violated its commitments to keep so-called amber box subsidies to agriculture under its US$ 19.1 billion a year ceiling.

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Supply Management in Canada: Lessons for the South

January 29, 2007 | Richard Reesor
Raised on an egg producing farm during the 1960s and ‘70s, I witnessed the transition from free-run to caged-layer technology, a move that allowed producers to expand their operations rapidly from farms of a few thousand layers to tens of thousands of layers. That, in turn, sparked a shift in Canada's agricultural policy.

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