Extractivism: The Harper Government’s Energy and Environment Policy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29173/psur14Abstract
This work focuses on the Harper government’s energy and environmental policy. Specifically, how environmental policy was designed primarily with the goal of facilitating their energy policy objective of maximizing resource extraction. I outline the evolution of the Harper government’s environmental policy throughout their tenure, which includes the use of ineffective and deceptively communicated legislation designed to give the impression of action, and the systematic dismantling of environmental regulation. Also, I explain the Harper government’s relationship with the resource extraction industry. Industry was given exceptional access to government, as they had substantial influence over policy and collaborated on communications strategy. The government also marginalized science, scientists, and environmentalists through defunding, muzzling, destruction of scientific records, and more. Finally, I examine the ideological underpinnings that inform these relationships and the rationality they construct. I will demonstrate that the Harper government’s neoliberal populist orientation characterized their dichotomous conception of economy and environment, and therefore their environmental and energy policies, and their relationship with perceived allies and adversaries. Ultimately, the Harper government’s efforts to maximize resource extraction through dismantling environmental regulation not only failed, but also obstructed their goal.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal’s published version of the work with an acknowledgement of its initial publication to this journal.