This week:

• We turn the green lens to economics as we focus on the current recession and what it means for environmental realities – and environmental opportunities – in the coming years. We first speak with Douglas Porter, Deputy Chief Economist of BMO Capital Markets, about greening the economy in a time of recession.
• Later on the program, Ecological Economist Peter Victor joins us to consider how we might be able to make room for steady-state economics within a shifting economic context.

The headlines in brief:

• Debate over such issues as the provincial carbon tax, and private run-of-the-river power projects has dominated the last part of the BC provincial election campaign.
• The province of Saskatchewan has announced defeat in the fight against GHG emissions, saying it will not meet previously set targets of a 32% emissions reduction by 2020.
• The Sierra Club of Canada is once again taking the Federal Government to court over its decision to axe environmental assessments as part of its plan to stimulate the economy.
• Ontario is going ahead with what will be the toughest pesticide ban in Canada, despite international trade agreement challenges to a similar ban in Quebec.
• Representatives of Indigenous groups from around the world met in Alaska this week to discuss their future contributions to action on global warming.
• Prince Charles is planning an attack on big business through the release of an environmentally oriented book and film.

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- Photo credit: Swisscan -