Ethanol and Biodiesel in Canada: Can They Help Meet Canada's Kyoto Commitment?
The Canadian government ratified the Kyoto Protocol in December 2002. The protocol calls for greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced by 6 percent below the 1990 level (approximately 35 percent below what they are expected to be in a business-as-usual situation) by 2008â€“2012. To help meet this target, both federal and provincial governments in Canada have developed programs (in some cases mandates) for ethanol and biodiesel production and use in fuel blends. Various subsidy schemes have been designed to stimulate development of a biofuels industry in Canada. While the programs have been promoted on the basis of environmental concerns, a major driver has been the search for new markets for Canadian agricultural commodities that face chronically depressed prices. The purposes of this article are to review the current state of policies, programs and production of ethanol and biodiesel in Canada and to assess the prospect of these biofuels to significantly reduce production of greenhouse gases in Canada.
Macroeconomic Impact of Establishing a Large-scale Fuel Ethanol Plant on the Canadian Economy
This paper analyzes the macroeconomic impact of establishing a large-scale fuel ethanol plant that uses com as its feedstock. An input-output model of the Canadian economy is used to estimate the macroeconomic impact. The agricultural output data required for the input-output analysis are generated using an econometric model. The macroeconomic impact of operating this plant is increases in industrial output of $328.6 million, in GDP at factor cost of $84.2 million and in employment of 1,390 jobs. 
 
 
 
Ce document a pour but d'analyser l'impact macro-economique de l'installation d'une grande usine productrice d'ethanol, utilisant le mai's comme matiere premiere. Un modele entrees-sorties de l'economie canadienne est employe afin d'estimer l'impact macro-economique. Les donnees de rendements agricole requises pour cette analyse sont generees a l'aide d'un modele econometrique. Les impacts macro-economique qui resulterent suite a l'operation de cette usine sont: un augmentation de $328.6 millions du rendement industriel, une augmentation de $84.2 millions du PIB au cout des facteurs, ainsi qu'un gain de 1,390 emplois.
Protection of the Marine Environment: The International and National Regulation of Deep Seabed Mining Activities
This chapter provides an overview of the international and national regulatory framework pertaining to deep seabed mining activities. It begins by discussing the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the backdrop for all marine activities – be they national or international – and examines the obligations of states to protect the marine environment from the harmful effects arising from deep seabed mining. Next, the chapter examines the international regime for deep seabed mining (i.e. “activities in the Area”), explaining the “common heritage of mankind” status of the Area (i.e. the international seabed); the functions of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the international organization established to govern deep seabed mining in the Area; and the concept of state sponsorship of non-state entities (i.e. private actors) for deep seabed mining in the Area. The chapter follows with a discussion of the development of national legislation to regulate deep seabed mining, examining efforts in the Pacific region where many prospective deep-sea mining sites are located. This includes a look at the legislative regimes of several Pacific Island nations, namely, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and the Cook Islands, for whom deep seabed mining may soon become a reality – as well as New Zealand and Japan, countries with comparatively developed rule of law and legislative regimes that have undertaken or considered deep seabed mining in their national waters. Overall, the chapter critically describes and evaluates the current regulatory status in the international and national seabed areas and highlights some salient gaps that require urgent attention in order to ensure marine environmental protection and mitigate impacts on humans.