Consumer energy conservation policy in Canada. Behavioural and institutional obstacles

Abstract

This paper posits that if consumer energy conservation policy is to succeed in Canada, both behavioural and institutional obstacles must be identified and overcome. The behavioural barriers, identified through a national household survey, include consumer resistance to policies that affect their life-styles. The institutional barriers obtained from a series of interviews with government officials, include weak federal-provincial relations. Viewed from a federal perspective, these obstacles are discussed and then linked to policy types. A prior understanding of the obstacles which a particular programme type is likely to face should allow more effective execution of the programme and enhance the probability of success. © 1982.