Encouraging Environmentally Sustainable Growth in Canada

Ann Vourc'h

No 290, OECD Economics Department Working Papers from OECD Publishing

Abstract: This paper analyses aspects of natural resource policy and environmental policy in Canada. In the taxation of resource-based activities, the management of water supply and the Atlantic fisheries management, the paper finds that there are incentives that may lead to overexploitation, over-harvesting or over-use, with possible harmful environmental consequences. Water prices are kept low, especially for agricultural use, exacerbating water availability problems in some areas, whereas the ban on bulk water removal and exports reveals a high implicit valuation of water. The use of economic water pricing and transferable water rights in some areas would establish more consistent incentives. The evolution of the crisis in the Atlantic fisheries illustrated the problems of balancing short-term adjustment costs against long-term sustainability. A more precautionary approach in setting total allowable catches and the removal of incentives for labour to remain in the sector may ... Ce document analyse certains aspects de la politique des ressources naturelles et de l'environnement au Canada. Considérant le traitement fiscal des activités fondées sur les ressources, la gestion de l'approvisionnement en eau et des pêcheries de l’Atlantique, le document trouve que certaines incitations en place peuvent encourager une surexploitation, un prélèvement excessif ou une surconsommation, avec des conséquences dommageables possibles pour l’environnement. Le prix de l’eau est maintenu très bas, en particulier pour l’agriculture, ce qui exacerbe les problèmes d’approvisionnement dans certaines régions, alors que l’interdiction des prélèvements et exportations massifs révèle une haute valorisation implicite de l’eau. Une tarification plus économique et des droits sur l’eau négociables établiraient des incitations plus cohérentes. L’évolution de la crise des pêcheries de l'Atlantique illustre la difficulté de mettre en balance les coûts d’ajustement à court-terme et la ...

Keywords: Canada; Canada; développement durable; environmental policy; politique environnementale; sustainable development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H23 Q00 Q20 Q28 Q40 Q48 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2001-03-22
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:oec:ecoaaa:290-en

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