What could and what should Budget 2012 look like on energy and climate change?

The Harper government will deliver their first majority government budget tomorrow. There is a lot of anxiety going into this budget with big cuts expected. While the government is denying it is an austerity budget, leaked documents have certainly set this tone with deep cuts to the public service, changes delaying eligibility for Old Age Security and more. For a broader look at what is being reported in the media about this budget, see Brent Patterson’s blog: UPDATE: What will we see in Budget 2012?.

On energy and climate change, I expect this budget to reflect the confrontational tone set by the Harper government, including the framing of anyone that questions the unsustainable expansion in the tar sands as ‘extremists’ or ‘adversaries of Canada.’

Canada’s cut backs to monitoring air quality which recently provoked international rebukeare a taste of what is to come. My expectations for the right choices to be made are low and I certainly fear the outcome of further spending cuts to Environment Canada and the gutting of important federal legislation. Read more…