Canada West Foundation Blog

Policy Analyst
Canada West Foundation Head Office, Calgary AB

About the Role
For forty years the Canada West Foundation has been the only independent and non-partisan think tank focused on public policy issues of vital concern to western Canada. As a member of the Foundation’s research team you will lead the development and delivery of a range of public policy research projects. Research topic areas will include issues relating to the intersection between economic, energy, and environmental issues, and a range of other policy areas of critical importance to western Canada and to all Canadians.

Remuneration will be negotiated commensurate upon skills and experience of the successful candidate.
This is a full time position located in Calgary, Alberta. Some travel including across western Canada is required.

Key accountabilities will include:

• Showing creativity and innovation on critical economic, energy and environmental policy issues and trends.
• Working both collaboratively and independently as a member of the research team to formulate evidence based, practical and thoughtful public policy recommendations based on research results.
• Provide mentorship to interns within the team to ensure delivery on high quality project deliverables.
• Communication of research results to drive impact for a variety of audiences including the media, the research community, the business sector, policy-makers and the public both orally and in writing, through authoring major research reports, presentations, blogs, and op-ed articles to a high standard.

Selection Criteria:

1. Strong research analysis and critical thinking skills. Relevant tertiary qualifications and work experience in policy research, public policy, economics, social sciences and/or related fields are required.
2. A detailed understanding of the key public policy challenges facing western Canada in the Canadian and North American context.
3. The ability to manage complex research projects and achieve contract outcomes on time and on budget.
4. Strong communication, negotiation, networking and stakeholder management skills.
5. Ability to lead projects, work in teams and supervise others.

Applicants should provide:

• Cover letter addressing how you meet the selection criteria (no more than 2 pages in length).
• Resume including education and employment history.
• Two references, including phone and email contact details, who we may contact regarding your application.
• A writing sample (eg; a report, briefing note or article you have written).

Applications should be submitted via email to Human Resources at: porteous@cwf.ca no later than 5pm Mountain Standard Time on September 6, 2011. Applicants may be asked to provide academic transcripts as part of the selection process. Only applicants who are selected for an interview will be contacted further. All applicants are thanked for their interest in the Canada West Foundation.

Global demand for Canadian energy resources, including coal, shale gas, oil sands and uranium, is on the rise, especially amongst Asia’s largest and fastest growing economies. On September 8, 2011, Canada West Foundation will be collaborating with the Asia-Pacific Foundation to host the Canada-Asia Energy Cooperation Conference, which will be held alongside the 7th Annual Canada-China Energy and Environmental Forum.

The Conference will examine the growing web of energy-related trade, investment, strategic and environmental linkages between Canada and Asia, featuring Canadian and Asian experts and practitioners from a variety of sectors. Opening Remarks will be made by Alberta Environment Minister, the Honourable Rob Renner, with Alberta Energy Minister, the Honourable Ron Liepert, providing the Luncheon Keynote.

That evening, the Canada West Foundation will share our strategic vision for the future of western Canada, and Asia’s place within that vision at our Community Board Dinner. The Keynote presentation by Victor Gao, China Co-Chairman of Daiwa Capital Markets, will explore the growing and complex relationship between Canada and Asia.

Don’t miss out on these exciting events! For more information on the Canada-Asia Cooperation Conference and Community Dinner, please click here.

With increasing food and energy prices, a growing world population and the potential effects of climate change, water—and how it is managed—is more important than ever. A new publication by the Canada West Foundation delves into the views of water policy experts across the West to determine key highlights and priorities for our water future. 

Wave of the Future: Water Policy in Western Canada by Dr. Roger Gibbins and Larissa Sommerfeld highlights viewpoints from over 50 individuals across the West with a background in water management, governance or the study of water, brought together by the Canada West Foundation for the Honourable James A. Richardson Discovery Roundtables. As a result of these discussions, it was obvious that water experts have similar priorities.

“Canada needs to take a long-term approach to planning water policy,” advises Dr. Gibbins. “In addition to ensuring that policy developments progress in a timely matter, we also need to appropriately value this natural capital while increasing public awareness about water issues.”

Our water has the potential to be a challenging issue for western Canada in the coming years, yet the participants at the spring 2011 James A. Richardson Discovery Roundtables shared a general sense of optimism. Although there are challenges that lie ahead with this resource and how we can best manage it, decision-makers should recognize that addressing any one of the priorities highlighted will be a step in the right direction.

The Honourable James A. Richardson Discovery Roundtables were launched in 2006 to seek out new thinking to strengthen the voice of western Canadians and gain a sense of policy challenges to come. The annual roundtables are designed to engage a small group of individuals with a background in, and a passion for, the topic under discussion. In the spring of 2011, the Roundtables featured water and were held in Victoria, Lethbridge, Saskatoon and Winnipeg. 

Click here to download a copy of Wave of the Future: Water Policy in Western Canada.

By: Ken Adams

How do we define “foundational”?

• Environmental performance is no longer a “secondary” consideration for a sustainable energy future.

• Our current supply mix already meets our needs in terms of heat, mobility and electric applications. But it does not position Canada to succeed in a world that is increasingly competing to produce low-carbon energy services. The question is: can we continue to reliably meet our needs with less environmental impact at reasonable cost?

• For the electricity sector the answer is yes, in large part because of our hydropower resources.

Hydropower is abundant, efficient and reliably cost competitive

• Abundant water resources are a Canadian competitive advantage. Factors such as population growth, economic growth and greater use of electrical appliances and equipment are expected to continue to drive electricity demand in the coming years and to the extent that electric power is called upon to meet mobility needs, the power system will need to be much larger than it is today. Supply projections for hydropower are robust: A recent study commissioned by the Canadian Hydropower Association reveals an untapped potential of 163,000 MW of hydropower, over twice the amount in operation.

These are resources that can meet the growth of electricity demand in Canada, but can also be leveraged to provide secure, clean energy to the United States where additional domestic capacity for hydropower production is limited and demand for low-carbon energy is growing.

• The technology is efficient and Canada is a leader in its development. Hydropower is one of the most efficient sources of energy. Modern hydropower stations can convert more than 95 percent of the available energy in the river into electricity, while combined cycle cogeneration plants are only about 60 percent efficient.

Talk of a Canadian energy strategy often includes projections of global expertise in energy technologies. The Canadian energy services industry has developed world-renowned skill in efficient hydropower project design, construction and sustainable practices. Demand for that expertise continues to grow: in non-OECD countries, hydropower is expected to be the predominant source of renewable electricity growth.

• The cost is competitive—and reliably so.  Despite high initial investment costs, hydropower remains economical in comparison to other large-scale generating options as plants have low operation and maintenance costs and a very long service life.  The development of hydro resources also shelters Canadians from the potential financial liabilities of more carbon-intensive resources and the uncertainty associated with future climate change legislation.

Hydropower addresses concerns about environmental impact and social acceptability

• Climate change and air pollution impacts are negligible. GHG emissions from hydro projects are 60 times less than those from coal-fired plants and 18-30 times less than natural gas power plants. No air pollutants that cause acid rain or smog and no toxic effluents result from hydropower.

• Aquatic and terrestrial impacts are proactively managed. To manage impact on land and water use, new hydropower facilities respond to environmental legislation covering all stages of hydropower development, from planning through construction to operation.

• Local communities benefit and have meaningful input. Many hydropower projects in Canada are developed in remote locations, often in close proximity to Aboriginal or other communities. Contemporary project development ensures that local communities have a meaningful say in these projects and reap benefits through improved quality of living, employment growth and long term revenues sustained through business developments. In some instances projects are being pursued in partnership with aboriginal communities.

• Hydropower provides essential support for other green technologies. Given its storage capabilities, hydro is also uniquely placed to support the integration of other renewables such as wind or solar energy into the electricity grid. Large hydro dams can be used as “batteries” that allow water to be stored when wind-generated electricity is at its peak, and to release this water to produce electricity when it is needed.

Similarly, electric vehicles look like a practical route to low-carbon light-duty urban transport. Given that the transport sector is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gas emissions in the country (nearly 30% of total GHG emissions in Canada), the electricity that powers those vehicles should come from a low-carbon source like hydropower.