Canada's carbon tax has been axed, so what's next in the fight against climate change?

03/28/25 • 15 min

Canada’s carbon tax has been a defining policy in the fight against climate change, but with rising costs and shifting political tides, the tax has been axed. In this episode of Government Policy Unpacked, I dive into why the carbon tax was introduced, how it was meant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and what led to being scrapped.

But what’s next? We explore whether taxing heavy emitters—a model pioneered in Alberta—could be a more effective and less burdensome way to cut emissions while keeping industries competitive. With the federal election on the horizon, political leaders are debating Canada’s approach to emissions reduction. Should we prioritize large industrial polluters over consumer-focused taxation? How do Canada’s climate policies compare to global trends?

Join me, Rupesh Patel, as I unpack the economics, environmental impact, and political stakes of Canada’s next steps of addressing climate change. Hit follow, leave a review, and stay informed as we break down the policies shaping our future!

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Ontario votes 2025: Healthcare and Housing (Part 2)

In this conversation, as the Ontario election looms, Rupesh Patel and Malumir Logan delve into pressing issues facing Ontarians - healthcare and housing. They discuss the challenges of accessing primary care, the burden on healthcare professionals, and the complexities surrounding housing, including infrastructure and regulatory hurdles. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding party platforms and the implications of voting in the upcoming election, while also encouraging self-reflection on biases in leadership perceptions.

Ontario, healthcare, housing, elections, voting, leadership, policy, primary care, specialists, housing crisis, government

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Deepfakes, disruption, and the AI tsunami - Is Canada Ready?

In this conversation, Rupesh Patel and Wyatt Tessari L'Allié discuss the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications for society, governance, and safety. They explore the exponential growth of AI capabilities, the importance of responsible AI governance, and the role of government in regulating AI technologies. The discussion also highlights the potential risks associated with AI, including job displacement and safety concerns, as well as the need for global collaboration on AI safety. The conversation concludes with reflections on international AI safety summits and the challenges of establishing effective global governance frameworks. In this conversation, Wyatt discusses the current state of AI policy in Canada, highlighting the lack of political action and the urgent need for comprehensive legislation. He emphasizes the importance of safety in AI development, the challenges posed by deep fakes, and the dual role of AI in cybersecurity. The conversation also touches on the potential for human-level AI in the near future and the environmental impact of AI data centers, urging for proactive measures to address these issues.

Wyatt Tessari L'Allié is the founder and Executive Director of AI Governance & Safety Canada, a leading civil society voice on the governance of advanced AI. A former engineer, filmmaker and climate advocate, he has spent the last 8 years researching and writing about the risks and opportunities of AI, and is the author of the book "A Path Forward This Century".