Review of policy on climate change in Canada

The latest review of policy on climate change in Canada in advance of the federal election in the fall shows some expansion of details.

Ottawa river

Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer says he believes in man-made climate change, however, his party has yet to present its own carbon reduction plan.

 however, his party has yet to present its own carbon reduction plan.1

CPC on Climate now

The Coalition Avenir Québec has gone against the obstinacy of its supposed ideological cousins to become one of the few conservative governments to both acknowledge climate change science and wholeheartedly engage in a carbon reduction plan for the province.

 Last October, right around the time Jason Kenney and Doug Ford “joined forces” to protest the federal carbon tax, freshly-elected Quebec Premier François Legault was busy endorsing the carbon reduction plan of the previous Liberal government. Kenney called Justin Trudeau’s carbon tax “a failure”; Legault instead appeared on a stage with Trudeau, promising to spread the carbon reduction gospel to Doug Ford. (Spoiler alert: it didn’t work.)2

The Green Party has a comprehensive plan, Mission Possible, to avoid climate catastrophe.

The Green Party has Canada’s only comprehensive plan to avoid climate catastrophe2

LPC and Green Policy

Young people across Canada have launched the Our Time campaign (our-time.ca) and are organizing around a Green New Deal.

Earlier this month, young people across Canada launched the Our Time campaign (our-time.ca) and are organizing around a Green New Deal that will ensure Indigenous rights, migrant justice, good work for all and a livable climate for our generation and future generations. Status quo politics are allowing far-right xenophobic political movements to spread. Almost all political parties are still championing fossil fuel expansion, ignoring its effects on water, the climate and Indigenous communities. The 2019 federal election will be our time to push all political parties to be forward-thinking and courageous to fight for a livable future.3 

The NDP plan to fight climate change, Power to Change, will create at least 300,000 good jobs in communities across the country, and provide training and supports for workers as our economy changes.

 The NDP plan to fight climate change, Power to Change, will create at least 300,000 good jobs in communities across the country, and provide training and supports for workers as our economy changes. We’ll improve the buildings where we live, go to work, and go to school with retrofits that reduce energy demand – while cutting down energy bills for families. We’ll make it easier to own a zero-emission vehicle, and make sure those cars are made in Canada. We’ll move to 100% electric transit, help communities work towards free transit, and improve access to affordable bus and rail service in rural and remote communities. And instead of giving billions in subsidies to huge oil and gas companies, we’ll invest in a future where Canadians have good jobs, clean air and water, and can afford to live a good life. And we’ll do it with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis as our full and equal partners.4  

NDP Policy

References

1	(2019, June 7). Quebec shows conservatives how to address climate change - iPolitics. Retrieved June 7, 2019, from https://ipolitics.ca/2019/06/07/quebec-shows-conservatives-how-to-address-climate-change/
2	(n.d.). Mission Possible - Green Party of Canada. Retrieved June 7, 2019, from https://www.greenparty.ca/en/mission-possible
3	(2019, April 25). Time for Canada's own green new deal | Voice of the City | Halifax .... Retrieved June 7, 2019, from https://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/time-for-canadas-own-green-new-deal/Content?oid=21533556
4	(n.d.). Power to Change – A New Deal for Climate Action ... - Canada's NDP. Retrieved June 7, 2019, from https://www.ndp.ca/power-to-change