Latest news with #StephenHarper
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Former PM Harper says military spending can address Arctic infrastructure gap
OTTAWA — Former prime minister Stephen Harper said Friday the best way to build much-needed infrastructure in the Arctic is through military spending. Speaking in Iqaluit during his first visit to the North since leaving office, Harper said leveraging military spending can build roads and runways to create supply chains and lower the cost of living. "We need to have the full range of transportation and communications infrastructure ... quite frankly, the easiest way to develop those logistics is through military development," Harper said during a fireside chat at the Nunavut Arctic Sovereignty and Security Summit. He said military spending has long been a catalyst for building roads and airports in the North. Iqaluit is built around an 8,000-foot airport runway constructed by the U.S. military during the Second World War. "This is the biggest and most effective way to create the most basic, wide ranging infrastructure," Harper said. "And if we can do that and then build on that, that makes it then so much easier to bring in materials for construction, or economic development, or fly in food. Get things at a critical mass where prices can come down. Build housing more effectively." Canada recently committed to NATO's new military spending target of five per cent of GDP. Federal officials have spoken in recent years about linking northern infrastructure to defence spending Canada's defence strategy committed to building Northern Operational Support Hubs, which would involve upgrades to power and telecommunication infrastructure. Iqaluit was announced as one of the hub locations in March. Udlariak Hanson, a longtime Nunavut executive and vice-president of the mining company Baffinland, moderated the conversation with Harper. She said the terms "security" and "sovereignty" mean different things in the North than in southern Canada. "You're absolutely right," Harper said. "For people here, when you talk about security, they're talking about food security, about housing security, about energy security. I don't think southern Canadians generally understand that. "Quite frankly, when you talk about security in the north, what southern Canadians are going to hear is obviously Donald Trump talking about annexing Canada, and probably even more relevant to here is Donald Trump talking about annexing Greenland." Harper said the key is to "marry" the two definitions of sovereignty and security to build infrastructure that satisfies the social security needs of the North and broader national security concerns. Throughout the 45-minute chat, Harper avoided commenting on current government policy and reflected on how he approached the region while in office. "I think the most important thing we did here was the fact that I actually came here ... in one marquee tour that I took every year to the North, which really was I think effective longer-term in drawing sustained national attention to this part of the country," he said. "I think that is the most important thing for future prime ministers to continue to do, to come here and make sure Canadians understand that we have not done what is necessary to develop this part of the country. And when we talk about it as the great future hope of Canada, there is a lot more to be done to make that realized." He didn't comment on the recently-passed Bill C-5, which could lead to one or more of Nunavut's proposals for "projects of national interest" being fast-tracked. He did offer some advice for the Liberal government when prompted. "Try and take a broader long-term view," he said, recalling how eyes would roll in Ottawa when his government proposed building a port in Iqaluit, or the Canadian High-Arctic Research Station in Cambridge Bay, Nvt., or the highway to Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T. "And I always used to say, these are the things, the nation-building things are the things that people will remember," he said. "They're the things that will define your time in government. "Don't get hung up on the dollars today, or kind of the immediate needs. Think about what you're doing in terms of the bigger picture." This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025. Nick Murray, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CTV News
21 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Former PM Harper says military spending can address Arctic infrastructure gap
Former prime minister Stephen Harper delivers the keynote address at a conference on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld OTTAWA — Former prime minister Stephen Harper says the best way to build much-needed infrastructure in the Arctic is through military spending. Speaking at an Arctic security conference in Iqaluit on Friday, Harper said leveraging military spending can build roads and runways to create supply chains and lower the cost of living. Canada has committed to NATO's new military spending target of five per cent of GDP and federal officials have spoken in recent years about linking northern infrastructure to defence spending. Harper said the threats Canada faces offer an opportunity to develop the region, much as the Second World War and the Cold War led to rapid development of northern infrastructure. Harper said this visit to Iqaluit is his first since leaving office. Harper prioritized northern development as prime minister and made annual trips to the region. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025 Nick Murray, The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Free Press
21 hours ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Former PM Harper says military spending can address Arctic infrastructure gap
OTTAWA – Former prime minister Stephen Harper says the best way to build much-needed infrastructure in the Arctic is through military spending. Speaking at an Arctic security conference in Iqaluit on Friday, Harper said leveraging military spending can build roads and runways to create supply chains and lower the cost of living. Canada has committed to NATO's new military spending target of five per cent of GDP and federal officials have spoken in recent years about linking northern infrastructure to defence spending. Harper said the threats Canada faces offer an opportunity to develop the region, much as the Second World War and the Cold War led to rapid development of northern infrastructure. Harper said this visit to Iqaluit is his first since leaving office. Harper prioritized northern development as prime minister and made annual trips to the region. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Canada's pension giants too cozy with the fossil fuel industry, new report warns
Five of Canada's largest public sector pension funds have board members with close ties to the fossil fuel industry, according to a new report. The pension and climate activist group Shift: Action for Pension Wealth and Planet Health (Shift) warns the overseers of trillions in Canadian retirement savings face potential conflicts of interest as their massive investment portfolios face climate-related risks. Shift's report released Thursday names nine current directors of major Canadian pension funds with formal fossil fuel ties. Shift says these individuals also serve as directors or executives of 12 different fossil fuel companies or investment firms that focus on fossil fuels. The list includes former prime minister Stephen Harper, who sits on Alberta Investment Management Corporation's (AIMCo) board. Harper is listed as a 'working equity partner' on the website of Azimuth Capital Management, a Calgary-based private equity firm with investments in Canadian oil and gas producers. 'Pension boards face difficult governance decisions to reduce the climate impact of their investments and reduce fund exposure to risky stranded assets in the fossil fuel sector,' Shift executive director Adam Scott stated in a news release. 'Climate-related board decisions from funds managing hundreds of billions in assets have major implications for fossil fuel companies. It's easy to see how fossil fuel company directors could potentially find themselves with real or perceived conflicts, and how such conflicts, if not addressed, could undermine prudent pension governance.' Shift says the five big Canadian public sector pension funds 'entangled' with the fossil fuel sector include the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP), Public Service Pension Investment Board (PSP), Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo), and Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS). Shift found CPPIB and AIMCo had the highest concentration of 'fossil fuel-entangled' directors on their boards, at 30 per cent and 33 per cent, respectively. In May, Shift criticized CPPIB, Canada's largest pension plan by assets under management, for its plan to abandon its net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 commitment. In February, a report from Shift noted a 'troubling divergence' among Canadian pensions, with the greenest funds becoming greener, and laggards deepening investments in fossil fuels. Shift says the five Canadian pension boards with fossil-linked directors in its new report marks a decrease from the 12 funds listed in its 2022 analysis. Jeff Lagerquist is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow him on X @jefflagerquist. Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CTV News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
James Moore: A summer reading list to replenish the mind
James Moore is a former federal cabinet minister under prime minister Stephen Harper, and a columnist for The summer break from the federal Parliament — and from our provincial legislatures — offers our political leaders an opportunity to refuel. Federally, this has been a long year. The resignation of a prime minister, a leadership race for the governing party, the installation of a new prime minister, the tense federal election campaign, the throne speech by King Charles III, the G7 in Alberta, the first ministers' meeting in Saskatoon, promises to 'build baby build' and generationally unprecedented nation-binding infrastructure. It's been a very busy legislative agenda, and all of this while the president of the United States persists in his trade war and tariff agenda and has the world on edge with his approach to foreign policy. So, yes, a breather is needed. A break, a mental reset and some distance from the tumult of the first half of 2025 to gain some perspective and grounding is in order. What is also in order, and ought to be a passion of those aspiring to meaningful contributions while in office, is some intellectual restocking. Most people arrive in office with a head full of ideas and a motor to grind through the travel, meetings, expectations and muck to try to see their ideas come to life. But the mind, body and spirit can wane over time, particularly when you've had a half-year like we've experience so far in 2025. Just as the body needs to rest and our relationships and community bonds need to be reestablished in the summer months, so, too must the intellectual capital be replenished by our leaders if they are to be of full value to Canadians in the balance of 2025 and beyond. With that in mind, I humbly offer a suggested summer reading list for those looking to take a few weeks and slow down, nourish the mind, and return in the fall with some needed intellectual replenishment. 'The Morning After: The 1995 Québec Referendum and the Day that Almost Was,' by Chantal Hébert and the late Jean Lapierre. Published in 2014 about the referendum of secession in Québec in 1995, this book is a documented warning about the dangers of setting in motion a political event that stirs all the divisions and passions that exist in our country, and not having a clue as to what comes next should your argument succeed. It is an incredible snapshot of a hinge moment in Canadian political history and full of lessons to be learned – something that will be useful as we approach the Québec election in 2026 and the anti-Canada referendum agenda of some in Alberta. The Morning After The 1995 Quebec Referendum and the Day that Almost Was (Penguin Random House Canada) 'Nation Maker: Sir John A. Macdonald: His Life, Our Times,' by Richard Gwyn, published in 2012 is simply essential reading for anyone wanting to understand Canada's founding and our first and most important prime minister. This is the second volume of Gwyn's biography of Macdonald, and it is his best. It eviscerates any argument that Canadian history is in any way dull, or that the creation and enduring existence of Canada was in any way a guarantee. Creating Canada was complex, at times tragic, at times inspirational, strategic, responsible and forever a fight against incredible odds. Without Sir John A. Macdonald, there is no Canada. A must read. Nation Maker: Sir John A. Macdonald: His Life, Our Times,' (Random House Canada) 'At the Centre of Government: The Prime Minister and the Limits on Political Power,' published in 2018 and authored by Ian Brodie, offers real world insight into the workings of the office of the prime minister of Canada. A political scientist who also served as chief of staff to Prime Minister Harper, Ian is one of the most respected voices in Canada at explaining where political science and theory, practical governing and real-world politics collide and how one can find success in navigating these conflicting storms. Chip War: The Quest to Dominate the World's Most Critical Technology (McGill-Queen's University Press) 'Chip War: The Quest to Dominate the World's Most Critical Technology,' by Chris Miller, is a primer on the intersection of economics, technology and geopolitics. Semiconductor dominance is a linchpin for 21st century power and the tiny chips inside all our devices – and who controls them – will shape global politics, great power competition and, possibly, future military conflict. While the world is rightfully focused on the wars in Ukraine, Gaza and Iran, tensions between China and Taiwan and the United States and its allies and China hinge on the fight of the fight for control over this technology. It is fundamental that our decision makers grasp the issues at hand and inform themselves of the dynamics at play. Chip War: The Quest to Dominate the World's Most Critical Technology (Scribner) 'The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life,' by David Brooks. This book hit me hard in all the right ways. It is about taking stock of one's life and understanding that professional accomplishment, resume building and career goals are an important mountain to climb in life – for a sense of purpose, contribution, financial stability and fulfillment. But, once scaled, there awaits a 'second mountain.' As Bono once said: 'the summit of aspirations can be a lonely place' and leave you feeling less satisfied than you imagined you'd be. The finding a different mountain to climb based on what Brooks calls 'eulogy virtues' – the things about your character and commitments that people will say about you once you've passed from this world – is something that will confront us in time, if we're fortunate. Finding that second mountain of a life well lived and learning the virtues of living a life through service to others, caring for your family, volunteerism, community building, these are the things that lead to a truly more meaningful life. The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life (Random House Trade Paperbacks) More from James Moore:
