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Canadian Political Science Association2025 Annual Conference Programme
The Politics of Belonging: Conflict,
Community, Curriculum
Hosted at George Brown College, Toronto, CANADA
June 3 to June 5, 20252025 Annual Conference Programme
The Politics of Belonging: Conflict,
Community, Curriculum
Hosted at George Brown College
June 3 to June 5, 2025
Canadian Politics
A11(a) - Roundtable - Carbon Federalism in Canada
Date: Jun 4 | Time: 10:15am to 11:45am | Location:
Chair/Président/Présidente : Mark Winfield (York University)
Discussant/Commentateur/Commentatrice : Keith Brownsey (Mount Royal University)
Mark Purdon (UQAM - Chair in Decarbonization - Département de stratégie, responsabilité sociale et environnementa)Runa Das (Royal Roads University, Interdisiplinary Studies )
Abstract: The proposed session would be a Round Table discussion with contributors to an edited volume currently under development on the theme of Carbon Federalism, led by Keith Brownsey (Mount Royal), Mark Winfield (York), Mark Purdon (UQAM) and Runa Das (Royal Roads) The current policy situation on climate policy in Canada is fragmented, contentious, and confusing. While trying to give the provinces and territories the ability to adjust to regional circumstances, the Government of Canada has, instead, allowed for a patchwork of policies that has allowed opponents of carbon reduction to define carbon pricing as an unnecessary economic hardship on Canadians. The situation is complicated by the breakdown of the federal-provincial (near-) consensus around climate change and carbon pricing from 2018 onwards in the aftermath of the election of populist governments in key provinces. Public support for federal action on climate change appeared to continue to be strong through the 2021 federal election. However, that support has weakened significantly in the face of post-COVID inflationary pressures and affordability concerns, especially around housing. Although Canada has made significant international commitments to greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and adopted substantive emission reduction policies, including a national carbon pricing system, these efforts are falling short of meeting Canada’s emission reduction commitments, and there is a genuine possibility of the collapse of much of Canada’s climate change policy framework. The round table will focus on pathways to effective climate policies in the future, grounded in collaborative and cooperative federal and provincial actions. Additional speakers will be added as chapter authors are identified.