http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/keyword/canada Inquiries Journal provides undergraduate and graduate students around the world a platform for the wide dissemination of academic work over a range of core disciplines. en-us Sat, 09 May 2026 06:02:34 -0400 Sat, 09 May 2026 06:02:34 -0400 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1557/responding-to-environmental-challenges-in-alberta By Peter Brown - Climate change and the myriad of challenges that come with it are a reality the entire world must face. However, for Canadian province, Alberta, the stakes are especially high. Oil and gas mining made up 18.3% of Alberta's GDP in 2015 and therefore plays a significant role in its economy. Alberta has also been subject to degrading air quality and natural disasters like the recent Fort McMurray Fire. Provincial and municipal governments have, however, taken many steps to addressing the array of environmental challenges Alberta faces including releasing its Climate Leadership Report to Environment... Sun, 30 Oct 2016 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1557/responding-to-environmental-challenges-in-alberta http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1469/canadian-democracy-in-theory-and-practice-the-roots-of-semi-representative-liberalism By Carter Vance - This article explores the nature of Canada’s political system as an evolving consequence of its roots in classical liberal thinking coupled with the self-protecting instincts of a variety of elite interest groups. In performing this exploration, through the political economy of such issues as free trade and public versus private service provision, it argues that this system deliberately closes down certain political possibilities by institutionally underrepresenting particular communities and restricting policy sovereignty via international agreements. This creates disconnects between the... Thu, 27 Oct 2016 10:57 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1469/canadian-democracy-in-theory-and-practice-the-roots-of-semi-representative-liberalism http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1424/accessibility-of-abortion-in-canada-geography-as-a-barrier-to-access-in-ontario-and-quebec By Daniela Bernal Kotlier - In Canada, a point of national pride has often been our publicly funded health care system. Its pillars of universality, accessibility and comprehensiveness exemplify the Canadian identity as being inclusive and progressive. However, it is important to look beyond the big picture and delve into how our health care system actually measures up to these standards in the lives of Canadians. Canada is often seen as a global leader in gender equality and sexual and reproductive rights (Action Canada for Sexual Health and Reproductive Rights [ACSHR], 2015a); we are one of the few countries in the world... Thu, 16 Jun 2016 08:06 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1424/accessibility-of-abortion-in-canada-geography-as-a-barrier-to-access-in-ontario-and-quebec http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1332/breaking-the-cycle-changing-alberta-in-the-present-to-save-the-future By A. Rachelle Foss - Alberta's resource power lies within the energy sector; in particular, the oil and gas industry. However, this same energy sector is contributing heavily to the destruction of the landscape and is contaminating the environment. This destructive pattern may seem unrelated to the province's economy, but a closer look shows that they are, in fact, closely connected. This is largely due to a failure by both the industry and political leaders to have a vision for the economic future. Although oil and gas royalties, paid to the province for the right to use crown land for capital gain, provide considerable... Tue, 01 Sep 2015 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1332/breaking-the-cycle-changing-alberta-in-the-present-to-save-the-future http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/978/exchanging-oil-sands-expansion-for-renewable-energy-growth-in-canada By Scott Sutherland - An important pipeline, called the Keystone Export Limited (XL) pipeline, connecting Alberta oil sands to refineries on the Texas gulf cost would hasten this process. It is estimated that between 2010 and 2025, more than $379 billion will be invested in oil sands development.[1] As a result, oil production is expected to more than double, to roughly 3.7 million barrels a day by 2021.[2] With the current debate surrounding the oil sands, this doubling of production will have major implications for Canada and the world. Based on a thorough analysis, I will demonstrate that further oil sands development... Fri, 09 Jan 2015 01:14 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/978/exchanging-oil-sands-expansion-for-renewable-energy-growth-in-canada http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/951/understanding-organics-at-the-grassroots-level-an-analysis-of-ecuadorian-and-canadian-perceptions By Jason Bradshaw - There is a growing public concern over the genetic alteration and use of chemicals in conventionally produced agriculture. The perceived risk of such agricultural production has prompted the rising popularity of organic alternatives in both developed and developing nations. These products are defined by their reliance on traditional means that do not require the use of harmful chemicals or pesticides in their production. The organic movement in South America has been defined not only by perceived risks, but also by a desire to preserve traditional ways of life. This is accomplished through grants... Tue, 30 Sep 2014 04:36 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/951/understanding-organics-at-the-grassroots-level-an-analysis-of-ecuadorian-and-canadian-perceptions http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/870/water-pollution-control-policy-addressing-non-point-source-pollution By Adib J. Rahman - Non-point source (NPS) pollution occurs when pollutants from many different and often difficult to track sources have a negative impact on air or water quality. Even though this type of pollution accounts for a substantial amount of water pollution in Canada, the problem has not been addressed as vigorously as point-source emissions (pollution from a single identifiable source). Traditional approaches such as emission standards are problematic because NPS emissions are difficult to control due to non-concentrated diffusion. They are also difficult to monitor because of weather-related issues.... Wed, 19 Mar 2014 12:39 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/870/water-pollution-control-policy-addressing-non-point-source-pollution http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/856/roots-tendrils-sprouts-and-shoots-a-case-study-of-parkallens-community-garden-a-permaculture-project By Marlene Wurfel - The first growing season of Edmonton’s Parkallen Community Garden began in Spring 2012. We transformed an unused strip of lawn bordering our hockey rink into a loamy, thriving “edible food forest” of corn, beans, squash, kale, tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, apple trees, and mammoth sunflowers. It is unlike most community gardens in that individual plots are not tended by individual gardeners; rather, the PCG is tended communally, by the community. The garden is open and accessible to the community, always, and all are welcome there, from the toddler whose only contribution is to... Mon, 13 Jan 2014 11:04 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/856/roots-tendrils-sprouts-and-shoots-a-case-study-of-parkallens-community-garden-a-permaculture-project http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/854/hoarding-plastic-waste-buried-alive By A. Rachelle Foss - Plastic is a ubiquitous part of our everyday lives. Popular for its versatility, it can be attributed to the creation of the numerous conveniences we enjoy in contemporary society. However, traditional plastic does not break down and thus has also become ubiquitous within the environment, and the mounting consequences to its extensive use is being seen. Recycling provides a degree of relief in our efforts to address this problem and can be a boost to the economy but there are barriers that reduce the effectiveness of this solution. In addition to the complex and arduous process of separating and... Mon, 13 Jan 2014 10:35 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/854/hoarding-plastic-waste-buried-alive http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/848/christopher-benjamins-eco-innovators-sustainability-in-atlantic-canada--stories-to-change-minds-and-move-hearts By Tami Ambury - In his 2011 book, Eco-Innovators: Sustainability in Atlantic Canada, environmental journalist Chris Benjamin provides a new kind of roadmap to a more sustainable future. In this work, Chris masterfully weaves the stories of 35 creative and dedicated individuals from the four Maritime Provinces who recognize the need to take action now. From more sustainable food, transportation, or housing choices, to new business models, to community- based social marketing and branding, to journalists and educators raising their voices for change, Chris outlines some of the many narratives for change. In so... Fri, 10 Jan 2014 02:45 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/848/christopher-benjamins-eco-innovators-sustainability-in-atlantic-canada--stories-to-change-minds-and-move-hearts http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/958/selling-ourselves-short-a-discussion-of-water-markets-in-alberta By Derek N. Pluim - The issue of water management has become one of increasing importance. Any new policy regarding resource management must balance the needs of the environment, the municipalities, and industry. In an effort to reconcile these needs, this report reviews the best practices of water policy. Specifically, the reason for undertaking this report is to research policy options available to the Alberta government to provide a framework for improving the Water for Life strategy. One generalization that can be made across the spectrum of privatization models is that whenever a resource is labelled a commodity... Mon, 30 Sep 2013 04:37 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/958/selling-ourselves-short-a-discussion-of-water-markets-in-alberta http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/865/competing-on-climate-change-an-interprovincial-longitudinal-review-of-emerging-environmental-risks-to-canadian-homeowners By Adam J. Henley - In an era of accelerated climate change, Canadian homeowners face growing financial exposures to environmental risks, and climate-related property damage now represents the largest aggregate cause of losses in the global insurance industry (Mills, 2012, p. 1424). This study presents data regarding hydrological, meteorological, and wildfire disasters occurring in Canadian provinces from 1970-2010. The rising incidence of natural disasters suggests that they are affecting an increasing number of Canadians across all provinces. In light of this data, the researcher recommends that Canadian insurers... Mon, 30 Sep 2013 04:37 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/865/competing-on-climate-change-an-interprovincial-longitudinal-review-of-emerging-environmental-risks-to-canadian-homeowners http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/765/an-econometric-analysis-of-the-backward-bending-labor-supply-of-canadian-women By Adib J. Rahman - Although there have been a few studies on the women’s labor supply in both developed and developing countries, there are no recent studies as of 2009 that focus on the “backward-bending” labor supply of Canadian women. While some studies have focused on labor supply and its elasticities by considering the aspect of poverty in the labor supply analysis (El-Hamidi 2003, Sharif 1991, Dasgupta & Goldar 2005), and others have focused on testing the hypotheses advanced by the Nakamuras (1981) of finding a backward-bending supply curve for females similar to that of males (Robinson... Wed, 25 Sep 2013 09:23 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/765/an-econometric-analysis-of-the-backward-bending-labor-supply-of-canadian-women http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/421/the-importance-of-canadian-identity-michael-adams-fire-and-ice-and-richard-bockings-canadas-water By Mamun A. Sahak - Michael Adams’ Fire and Ice and Richard Bocking’s excerpts from Water Export: The Canadian Response present two very distinct scenarios in which the relationship between Canada and the United States is played out. Fire and Ice consists of mostly raw data collected from surveys conducted around Canada and America over a period of nearly 10 years, whereas Booking’s text simply acquaints readers with the political issue of exporting Canadian water to the United States. While the methods used in the texts are clearly different, both texts reveal stark political and cultural distinctions... Fri, 01 Apr 2011 08:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/421/the-importance-of-canadian-identity-michael-adams-fire-and-ice-and-richard-bockings-canadas-water