Latest Publication
Research Papers
Canada Infrastructure Bank and the Public’s Right to Know
Columbia Institute’s new report, Canada Infrastructure Bank and the Public’s Right to Know, examines the proposed Bank, and government legislation that prevents public access to information. The report also highlights concerns expressed by information commissioners and includes examples of how the Canadian government can do better. “The federal government is ready to invest $35 billion READ MORE
Jobs for Tomorrow – Canada’s Building Trades and Net Zero Emissions
Commissioned by Canada’s Building Trades Unions, Jobs for Tomorrow – Canada’s Building Trades and Net Zero Emissions explores the historic role of Canada’s construction industry and potential for low-carbon economy job growth. Meeting Canada’s climate goals could generate millions of jobs in the building trades by 2050. “Canada’s building trades’ professionals have a proud history of READ MORE
Leadership Handbooks
The Nature of Leadership: Ideas for Building Inclusive, Sustainable Communities
The Nature of Leadership: Ideas for Building Inclusive, Sustainable Communities is the third volume in the “Innovative Strategies Leadership Series” for locally elected leaders. Inspired by conversations at our Centre for Civic Governance forums, this handbook highlights leadership stories from across the country and beyond. It relates stories of individuals and communities who are boldly confronting the myriad READ MORE
Unlimited Vision: Ideas for Building Inclusive Sustainable Communities
Unlimited Vision: Ideas for Building Inclusive Sustainable Communities is a collection of stories featuring courageous leadership, community building and legislative tools in action. It is the second volume in the “Innovative Strategies Leadership Series” for locally elected leaders. Inspired by conversations at our Centre for Civic Governance forums, this handbook highlights leadership stories from across the country READ MORE
Resource Guides
Top Asks for Climate Action: 2017 Report Card and 2016 Report
2017 Top Asks for Climate Action – Report Card Enhancing the ability of local governments across Canada to act on greenhouse gas emissions is both a powerful opportunity and an absolute necessity for meeting Canada’s climate commitments says the first annual report card on Top Asks for Climate Action. Local government decisions impact over fifty percent of READ MORE
Back in House: Why local governments are bringing services home
“Back in House: Why Local Governments are Bringing Services Home” says that across Canada and around the world public services that were once outsourced are now finding their way back in-house to municipalities, mainly because using in-house services saves money. That means the expected benefits from privatizing services are not as significant as expected. Download English READ MORE
Backgrounders
Residential Energy Efficiency Retrofit Financing Backgrounder (August 2015)
Energy use in buildings accounts for a significant portion of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Canada. In British Columbia, they account for 29% of energy use and 12% of emissions. Read Retrofit Backgrounder
Climate Change Backgrounder – The Road to Paris (May 2015)
Almost 200 countries will meet in Paris this December for a legally-binding global climate agreement on curbing carbon emissions, with the goal of limiting global warming to 2ºC from pre-industrial levels. This is the 21st UNFCCC COP (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – Conference of the Parties). The Union of Concerned Scientists READ MORE
