the Catalyst, Summer 2017

Summer 2017 – Vol. 40, No. 2

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On Canada’s 150th, What’s Next for Alberta’s Oil Sands?
By Kerry Oxford

As Canada marks 150 years since Confederation, I find myself reflecting on Alberta’s role in the Canadian economy as an engine. The past few years have been critical to our development and deepening understanding of who we are as Albertans. I am grateful for the opportunities afforded me living in a strong economy. And I am hopeful that our next 150 years will not only be economically strong, but more principled as well.

In Review

Reconciliation Needs Problem Solvers
By Bolu Coker

At CPJ’s 2017 Annual General Meeting in Winnipeg, Shaun Loney delivered a keynote address on the real essence of reconciliation in Canadian society. Loney’s book, An Army of Problem Solvers: Reconciliation and the Solutions Economy, provides deep insights into the connections between reconciliation and economic prosperity in Indigenous communities.

Meeting the Needs of the Dear Neighbour
By Leah Watkiss

On May 12, 60 Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto, along with their associates and partners, gathered to illustrate the faces of poverty and offer solutions. At the Sisters’ residence, they hosted Meeting the Needs of the Dear Neighbour, a story-telling event in response to the federal government’s poverty reduction strategy consultation process.

A Half Welcome for Refugees
By Rose Dekker

Imagine that you are a member of a church that was so moved by the refugee crisis in Syria that you decided to sponsor a Syrian family. Imagine further that the family you sponsored was not among the first 25,000 to come to Canada after the Liberal government won a majority mandate, and that family ended up waiting four or six months to arrive in Canada rather than the mere days or weeks of the earlier families.

It doesn’t take much imagination because this is what happened after February 2016.

Energy Poverty Requires Creative Solutions
By Darlene O’Leary

Energy poverty in Canada is not new. I can recall stories from my relatives about winters in their childhood, waking up to thick frost on the inside of their windows and heating bricks in wood stoves to keep their beds warm. That was a while ago, though not that long.

While sufficient and reliable energy use is more common in Canada now, not everyone can access or afford the energy that many of us take for granted.

How Taxes Can Reduce Inequality
By Dennis Howlett

We need to tackle inequality at both ends of the income scale. Everyone, even the rich, benefits from a more equal society with better population health, reduced crime, better educational and employment opportunities, and a more vigorous economy.

Groundings: Moving Beyond Greening and Stewardship
By Rev. Dr. Mishka Lysack

Greening alone is not enough to solve the big problems of climate change, air and water pollution, ocean acidification, and species extinction. The problems lie with how we have organized our economy and designed our buildings and cities, hardwiring our problems into structures that are difficult to change.

Book Reviews

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