Michael is a trained economist and successful business executive who joined Clean Prosperity in 2018. His career has spanned business, management consulting, international development, and politics. Prior to Clean Prosperity, Michael was the CEO of Mama Earth Organics, a small business that delivered organic produce from local farms to families around the Greater Toronto Area.
He worked directly with dozens of farmers and saw first-hand the effects climate change was having on the farms he worked with. As a father of two young kids, he’s also very concerned about the future that we’re leaving to the next generation.
Before working in the local food sector, Michael was a business management consultant at McKinsey where he advised Fortune 500 companies, institutional investors, and governments on key strategic and business issues. He also worked with InvestEco Capital to set up an advisory service that offered support to companies in the sustainable food sector.
Michael completed a Phd-level sequence in economics while completing a Masters in Public Administration from the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, and a B.A. in Economics from Yale University.
When he’s not working on climate change, you can find him building lego airplanes with his kids or doing his best karaoke impression of Vanilla Ice.
Connect with Michael
Twitter: @bernstein_micha
Linkedin: Michael’s profile
Media enquiries: media@cleanprosperity.ca
Resources
Michael’s headshot (16MB JPEG, 3024×4032)
Short bio: Michael Bernstein is the executive director of Clean Prosperity, a Canadian non-profit that works toward market-based solutions to the climate crisis. He serves on the C.D. Howe Institute’s Energy Policy Council, as a member of the Energy Future Forum, and as a MaRS Cleantech Volunteer Advisor.
Selected Writing
A climate plan that works for the planet and the oil and gas sector
(Hill Times, 23 November 2020)
Biden’s climate plan poses risks for Canada – here’s how we should respond
(Globe and Mail, 11 November 2020)
Conservatives can do carbon pricing. Just ask Boris Johnson.
(iPolitics, 26 October 2020)
Doug Ford could win by losing his legal fight against the carbon tax
(National Observer, 25 September 2020)
Canada can’t achieve climate goals without supercharging carbon removal
(Policy Options, 31 August 2020)
The most important climate change policy that no one’s talking about
(Hill Times, 12 August 2020; also on cleanprosperity.ca)
Poll shows climate change sunk Scheer — and could cost Ford
(Toronto Star, 29 October 2019)
Is carbon tax the answer to Canada’s climate-change woes?
(Maclean’s, 23 September 2019)
This election, which party platforms make the grade on carbon pollution cuts?
(National Observer, 11 October 2019)
Selected Media Appearances
Print
Michael quoted in an article about Canada's 2030 climate targets
(Toronto Star, 8 December 2020)
Michael quoted in an article about the impact of Joe Biden's election on Canada's climate policy
(Toronto Star, 13 November 2020)
Michael quoted in an article about carbon border adjustments
(Globe and Mail, 19 October 2020)
Michael quoted in a story about the Conservatives’ direction on climate policy
(National Observer, 15 September 2020)
Michael featured in article by John Ivison on Scheer’s climate plan
(BNN, 21 October 2019)
TV
Michael joins BNN’s Amanda Lang to discuss climate & the 2019 election
(BNN, October 21, 2019)
Michael grades the climate policies of each political party on The Agenda
(The Agenda on TVOntario, 10 October 2019)
Michael joins BNN’s Amanda Lang to discuss the business case for climate action
(BNN, September 27, 2019)
Michael talks climate policy with Mercedes Stephenson on the West Block
(The West Block on Global News, 1 September 2019)
Michael talks to Global’s Farah Nasser about the Ontario climate plan
(Global News at 5:30, 4 June 2019)
Radio
Michael discusses our new polling showing 905 voters support a carbon tax and rebate
(980 CFPL, 17 September 2020)
Michael discusses the Scheer climate plan with Evan Solomon
(Newstalk 1010, 11 July 2019)
