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Toronto/Montreal, October 1, 2015 – Today two of Canada’s largest environmental groups released a summary of the five major federal parties’ positions on environmental issues, including climate change and the upcoming Paris climate summit, tar sands and the Energy East pipeline as well as renewable energy, public transit and the electrification of transportation.
The study is based on responses to a series of questions that the environmental groups sent to the Conservative Party of Canada, the Green Party of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada, the New Democratic Party, and (in the French version) the Bloc Québécois. All parties responded to the questionnaire except for the Conservative Party.
“Climate change and pipelines are key issues during this election. This summary reveals a wide gap between different parties’ position on issues ranging from climate change to renewable energy and transit,” said Steven Guilbeault of Équiterre. “In some cases, parties have provided their positions and policy proposals in some detail,” he added.
“In regards to the Paris Climate Change Conference, the Greens and the NDP have put forward the most ambitious targets and action plan to achieve those. The Conservative government has a weaker target set for five years later,” said Tim Gray, Executive Director of Environmental Defence. “The Liberals have promised to set a target based on the best science, but we don’t know what the target is yet.”
On the Energy East pipeline, the Greens are opposed to it, the Conservatives support it, while the Liberal and NDP have both said they would subject the project proposal to a more rigorous review process if they formed government. No party has put forward a national target for renewable energy implementation or energy efficiency improvements, such as those adopted by the European Union, but the Greens, the Liberals and the NDP have all proposed numerous measures that would feed into national strategies.
Both environmental groups agree that with just over two weeks remaining until voting day, Canadians need to know what the different parties are proposing to move towards a safer, cleaner and greener future for all Canadians.
The English report can be found at: http://EnvironmentalDefence.ca/FederalClimateComparison
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is the Canadian Operator of the Blue Flag Program. Environmental Defence is Canada's most effective environmental action organization. We challenge, and inspire change in government, business and people to ensure a greener, healthier and prosperous life for all.
ABOUT ÉQUITERRE (equiterre.org/en): Équiterre helps build a social movement by encouraging individuals, organizations and governments to make ecological and equitable choices, in a spirit of solidarity.
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For more information, contact:
Naomi Carniol, Environmental Defence, (416) 323-9521 ext. 258; (416) 570-2878 (cell); ncarniol@environmentaldefence.ca
Dale Robertson, Équiterre, 514-605-2000, drobertson@equiterre.org
