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Cost-benefit analysis and economic impact analysis both provide the ability to assess projects' economic impacts, but through different methodological approaches and perspectives. In Canada and elsewhere, cost-benefit analysis is often eschewed in favour of economic impact analysis in environmental assessment processes. This paper presents a criteria-based evaluation of the two methods and shows that cost-benefit analysis has numerous strengths relative to economic impact analysis but that both methods are useful. Consequently, we recommend that the environmental assessment process be reformed to include cost-benefit analysis complemented by economic impact analysis to provide decision-makers with more complete information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ‘Day of Action to Stop GM Alfalfa’ was a Canada-wide protest that took place in 38 different cities on April 9th, 2013. Organized by a coalition of farmers and activists, these rallies protested potentially adverse impacts to markets, the environment, and society, and were picked up by news media outlets across the country. Despite the protestors’ focus on a range of concerns, news outlets tended to cover particular issues, such as economic and market impacts while broader social, political, and environmental issues received only peripheral attention. This article contributes to literature on GMO protests and media analyses by offering an explanation for the news media’s focus on economic over other concerns, and the power relations embedded in this focus. Based on a discourse analysis of 88 news reports on GM alfalfa published over a four year period, this article identifies under-acknowledged power relations that influence (largely inadvertently) the direction of reporting. Specifically, GM alfalfa news coverage is influenced in two key ways: (1) news values and media culture shape the report writing and editing process, privileging ‘newsworthy’ topics while side-lining others; and (2) neoliberal normative assumptions act as underlying hegemonic discourses that re-embed dominant knowledges—common sense values and assumptions regarding market mechanisms and privatization go unnoticed, or at least uncriticized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Techno-economic impact of retrofitting houses in the Canadian housing stock with PV and BIPV/T systems is evaluated using the Canadian Hybrid End-use Energy and Emission Model. Houses with south, south-east and south-west facing roofs are considered eligible for the retrofit since solar irradiation is maximum on south facing surfaces in the northern hemisphere. The PV system is used to produce electricity and supply the electrical demand of the house, with the excess electricity sold to the grid in a net-metering arrangement. The BIPV/T system produces electricity as well as thermal energy to supply the electrical as well as the thermal demands for space and domestic hot water heating. The PV system consists of PV panels installed on the available roof surface while the BIPV/T system adds a heat pump, thermal storage tank, auxiliary heater, domestic hot water heating equipment and hydronic heat delivery system, and replaces the existing heating system in eligible houses. The study predicts the energy savings, GHG emission reductions and tolerable capital costs for regions across Canada. Results indicate that the PV system retrofit yields 3% energy savings and 5% GHG emission reduction, while the BIPV/T system yields 18% energy savings and 17% GHG emission reduction in the Canadian housing stock. While the annual electricity use slightly increases, the fossil fuel use of the eligible houses substantially decreases due to BIPV/T system retrofit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At a minimum, Canada's observations of immigration policies, practices and outcomes in other countries have broadened and enriched the domestic policy debate, and hopefully other countries will similarly benefit from looking at Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Government of Canada has committed that Canada’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions be reduced by 17% from 2005 levels by 2020. The new Renewable Fuels Regulations required 2% renewable content in diesel fuel and heating distillate oil and 5% for gasoline. This represents approximately 2.1 billion liters of ethanol and 600 million liters of biodiesel requirement per year, which would reduce GHG emissions by more than four million tones. Canada is expected to consume more fuel ethanol compared to its production capacity. The above mandates as well as the gap in consumption and production of biofuel will have enormous impact on the Canadian economy. In this backdrop, an input–output model of the Canadian economy is developed to estimate the macroeconomic impact of the ethanol and biodiesel production in Canada. The impacts on sectoral prices have also been calculated. Simulation exercises have been attempted to reach the mandates using modified Leontief model. Results show that agriculture sector is affected because of feedstock use in the biofuel sector. Mining and manufacturing industries also show a considerable impact. In addition, the impact on commodity prices cannot be ignored. Finally, to meet the target of Copenhagen commitment, the nation needs to revise the blending capacity of ethanol and biodiesel. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Introduction: There is accumulating evidence supporting the use of probiotics, which are defined as “live micro-organisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host”, as a preventive measure against respiratory tract infections (RTI). Two recent meta-analyses showed probiotic consumption (daily intake of 107 to 1010 CFU in any form for up to 3 months) significantly reduced RTI duration, frequency, antibiotic use and work absenteeism. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of probiotic use in terms of number of RTI episodes and days averted, and the number of antibiotic prescriptions and missed workdays averted, in the general population of Canada. In addition, the corresponding economic impact from both a healthcare payer and a productivity perspective was estimated. Methods: A microsimulation model was developed to reproduce the Canadian population (sample rate of 1/1000 = 35 540 individuals) employing age and gender. RTI incidence was taken from FluWatch consultation rates for influenza-like illness (2013–14) and StatCan all-cause consultations statistics. The model was calibrated on a 2.1% RTI annual incidence in the general population (5.2 million RTI days) and included known risk factors (smoking status, shared living conditions and vaccination status). RTI-related antibiotic prescriptions and work absenteeism were obtained from the literature. Results: The results indicate that probiotic use saved 573 000–2.3 million RTI-days, according to the YHEC–Cochrane scenarios respectively. These reductions were associated with an avoidance of 52 000–84 000 antibiotic courses and 330 000–500 000 sick-leave days. A projection of corresponding costs reductions amounted to Can$1.3–8.9 million from the healthcare payer perspective and Can$61.2–99.7 million when adding productivity losses. Conclusion: The analysis shows that the potential of probiotics to reduce RTI-related events may have a substantial clinical and economic impact in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a methodology for the evaluation of the economic impacts of wind energy projects is presented. With an application to the Canadian setting, the methodology is based on modified input-output techniques using national/provincial economic Input-Output tables and multiplier coefficients. The model makes use of a profile of investment for a generic 100 MW wind energy project based on publicly available financial data from current wind energy projects developed and operating in Canada. Subsequently, a case study of the economic impact assessment for both the construction and operations phases of a generic 100 MW wind farm project constructed and operated in the province of New Brunswick, Canada is performed. Results show that in total, including direct, indirect and induced jobs, the construction phase could create a total of 225 person-years of labour, while the operations and maintenance phase could create a total of 17 person-years of labour annually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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It is often believed that the settlement and integration of skilled immigrants is moderately easy in Canada, and that skilled immigrants do well in Canada after a brief adjustment period. However, numerous barriers prevent the effective integration of skilled immigrants in the mainstream society. Despite being famous for its Federal Skilled Worker Program, which includes the immigration of skilled workers through Express Entry, Canada shows disappointing results in the economic and social outcomes of the integration of skilled immigrants. This has socioeconomic implications for the immigrants and affects their health and wellbeing. Therefore, there is a need for all those who are involved with immigrant integration to explore and be conversant about the contexts and issues faced by skilled newcomers in Canada. In reviewing the academic and grey literature on the settlement and integration of skilled immigrants in Canada, this paper highlights the challenges faced by skilled immigrants in Canada and the needs experienced by them in facing these challenges. It provides an overview of the experiences and expectations of skilled immigrants related to their settlement and integration in Canada. This paper indicates a need to evaluate the availability of immigrant services focused on skilled immigrants and the effectiveness of the existing support offered to them by various government and non-government agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]