Public vs private in crises: speed and outcomes

In episode 2 of our 6-marker series, we turn to the institutions we need for an emergency-scale response. Erin Blondeau speaks with Alex Himelfarb, Linda McQuaig, and Seth Klein about why relying on private incentives hasn’t worked, and how Canada once excelled at building bold public institutions. From Connaught Labs to Ontario Hydro, they revisit the legacy of Crown corporations and imagine what new ones could achieve today: from publicly owned renewables to EV manufacturing to national retrofit programs. They also explore the promise of a Youth Climate Corps. It’s a call for imagination, democratic accountability, and rebuilding the public capacity we’ve allowed to erode.

Links & references:

• Canada Needs a Youth Climate Corps - Climate Emergency Unit (video)
• Learn more about the Youth Climate Corps campaign
• The Sport and Prey of Capitalists - Linda McQuaig
• Breaking Free of Neoliberalism: Canada’s Challenge - Alex Himelfarb

More on the 6 Markers of the Climate Emergency:

• Watch our video: 6 Markers of Climate Emergency Action  
• Listen to all 6 episodes of our special series & the 6-marker overview episode from March 2025.
• Learn more about the 6 markers at www.davidsuzukiinstitute.ca/6-markers-of-climate-emergency

Credits:
Produced by Erin Blondeau and Doug Hamilton-Evans. Written and hosted by Erin Blondeau. Music by Anjali Appadurai. Audio editing by Blue Light Studios. Artwork by Geoff Smith.