Latest Announcements

The belief that Australia can decarbonise its economy by relying on the wind and the sun rests on a misplaced conviction about what the renewables rollout will entail. Advocates point to the increase in wind and solar from 1.5% of our electricity share in 2010 to around 33% today as a success, and evidence that the buildout can be further accelerated to achieve nearly twice this rollout in one-third the time, to meet targets set for 2030. This assumption is flawed. The intrinsic nature of uncontrollable, weather-dependent energy introduces faster growth in costs at higher penetrations, which mean the rollout gets harder as it proceeds, rather than easier. What we have experienced thus far is the renewable energy ‘honeymoon’ period, during which things were unnaturally simple. The true nature of the longer journey is one of formidable challenges, which we are only beginning to encounter

Read the report: The Renewable Energy Honeymoon: starting is easy, the rest is hard

Zoe Hilton is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Centre for Independent Studies in Australia, working in the Energy Program. She co-authored the energy team’s flagship paper The six fundamental flaws underpinning the energy transition and has written for The Australian, The Australian Financial Review and The Spectator Australia on the costs of renewables and nuclear energy. She also contributes to the energy debate through YouTube videos exploring energy policy and modelling. Zoe previously worked in the NSW Government as a Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister for Enterprise, Investment & Trade and Science, Innovation & Technology. This included overseeing government strategy and grant program design and launch for research, commercialisation and investment attraction. She managed policy issues across a range of areas, including universities, science, technology, investment, trade, the 24-hour economy, aerospace, defence, international education and skilled migration. Zoe has a passion for working at the intersection of science and policy. She previously conducted research and wrote policy proposals to government on energy, climate, and the environment. Zoe developed a keen interest in how behaviour influences complex systems through her study of science and arts at the University of Sydney.

During this webinar Edgardo will present the paper he prepared last year published by Macdonald-Laurier Institute titled “Chasing the wind – The value of wind generation in a low-emission nuclear and hydro-dominant grid: the case of Ontario.” This paper tells the economic story of wind generation in Ontario. 

• First, providing an overview of wind generation’s impact on electricity costs, prices and subsidies. To keep prices low, Ontario subsidizes 70% of the cost of wind. 

• Second, demonstrating that the costs of wind far exceed its societal and climate benefits, based on regression and cost-benefit analysis for the 2020-2023 period. Due to its nuclear and hydro-dominant generation and elimination of coal, Ontario is already one of the lowest-emission large grids in the world and hence the climate benefit from any new zero-emission generation will be limited to the extent it can displace gas generation. Relative to other areas, Ontario’s wind capacity factors are modest and out of sync with gas generation, all resulting in a relatively low wind emissions offset. 
• Third, it was calculated that a cost-benefit “break-even” wind price is relatively very low for the 2027 – 2030 period, which means that wind cannot be cost-beneficial in Ontario in the short/medium term.

Edgardo has written extensively on the electricity sector. Last year he prepared a report on public ownership and re-regulation for the Alberta Federation of Labour. He has also written about electricity for Jacobin magazine, and TVO Today. Find out more on his “decarbonization website.”

Born in Chile, Edgardo received his B.A. (Honours) from the University of British Columbia and his M.A. from Queen’s University, both in Economics. He established Sepulveda Consulting Inc. in 2006.

Featuring Amy JS Vethanayagam – Master of Technology in Cyber Security

November 9, 2025

3 pm Eastern Time

By Zoom

Are you afraid to click on links? Do you constantly wonder whether what you are seeing is real or a scam? Have you ever been tempted to respond to the wealthy prince in Saudi Arabia who is leaving you $2 million? Is managing passwords and 2 factor authentication becoming a full time job? Whether you answered “yes” or “no” to these questions, this workshop is for you. Whether you are so aware of the risks that you are reluctant to go on-line; or you are constantly finding yourself in hot water for clicking where you should not, this workshop will help you to find a comfortable balance on the Internet.

Join this workshop to find out: 

• Why you should worry about cybersecurity? 
• The importance of being cyber safe.
• What social engineering and phishing techniques are and what to do about them.
• What is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and why you should use it.
• Best practices to protect data and passwords.

This interactive workshop will explain real world cyber incidents and their impacts.

If you have specific cyber-security questions, there will be lots of time for Q & A when you can get those questions answered.

There is no charge for this workshop, however pre-registration is required. 

Join the discussion via Zoom, on July 13 at 8pm EDT.

Town Hall: July 13, 2025, 8pm EDT

Topic: The Attention Crisis in the Digital Generation

We will define Attention Span and discuss how this concept is known and why/if it is relevant to our society, to  education and to critical thinking. Please come and join the discussion.

Background material:

• Reading
• NotebookKLM podcast: https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/ea76ee0b-13ae-40c7-94ea-a44dc71bab00/audio

---

CFIC is launching a series of town hall gatherings. Once in a month, starting on 11th of May 2025 we will gather on Zoom to discuss a selected topic relevant to our society and our democracy.

These meetings are not planned to be webinars; the format will be a moderated discussion in which the attendees debate and discuss. Our objective is to nurture a culture of respectful and open-minded discussion and by doing so fostering a democratic and participatory citizenship.

Topics are selected by polling CFIC members and the wider public. A background document on the selected topic will be available for download from the CFIC website a week ahead of the Town Hall meeting.

Do you have extensive knowledge of federal and/or provincial human rights legislation? CFIC is looking for someone with a background in human rights law who can help direct us to take action when we hear of human rights abuses relating to our mandate. 

Note that we are not seeking “legal council” but advice and guidance about how we might address specific human rights violations.

Often, CFIC hears about human rights concerns from individuals seeking assistance. Our goal is to be able to meet with these individuals and provide them with information about where they can go for help. From time to time, CFIC might champion a case and seek funding to make the challenge ourselves. 

We often hear about Canadian institutions enforcing Christianity and/or rejecting secularism. For example: we have concerns about enforced participation in prayer in the military and at least one police force. We had a request to assist in a prison where the only book permitted for individuals on suicide watch was the bible. Recently we have heard from a university student who was told that her Master’s thesis was “offensive to people of certain religious faiths (i.e. Christianity) was unacceptable.”

This position requires occasional meetings and possibly some homework creating recommendations. If the volunteer is interested in remaining involved in a situation, they are welcome to do so; however, our primary need is for someone with the academic and/or career background to provide initial direction.
If this sounds like you, please complete a volunteer application and/or contact us at info@centreforinquiry.ca