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The citizens cast their ballots and democracy has spoken. A new Liberal minority government has taken the reins of the country.
Our team worked hard to put the environment at the heart of this election, notably through the Vire au vert coalition. This non-partisan initiative centralized the demands of Quebec's environmental organizations, demonstrated a Quebec consensus on environmental progress, and encouraged the political parties to clarify their positions on the environment. Our comparison tool gave voters access to commitments made by the different parties, enabling them to make more informed decisions.
However, the environment was not at the heart of people’s concerns during this last election. It’s normal. Priorities and concerns fluctuate over time. The priority of the moment, clearly illustrated by voters' choices, is to deal with the relationship with our neighbour to the South and all the economic, industrial, military, agricultural, social and environmental implications.
While there is consensus on this priority among the new members of Parliament, the types of solutions put forward are likely to diverge. There will be little patience for politicians who don’t take things seriously in the post-election political joust. With a bit of luck, proposals that are deemed opportunistic, that only serve electoral positioning and that take the form of slogans for t-shirts and baseball caps, will be left by the wayside.
Climate and environmental issues won’t wait for other crises to pass
As the new government navigates these priorities, it's imperative that the environment not be sacrificed for short-term solutions. It’s possible to chase away certain environmental concerns for the duration of an election, but we can't chase away climate change and its consequences. We will need to have intelligent discussions on issues such as mobility, energy and industrial development. And the choices we make will have to be environmentally sustainable, because the threat from South of the border has an expiry date, unlike the threat of climate change. Still, there's a link between these two disruptive phenomena: we can't control them, but we can make good long-term decisions to prepare for and deal with them.
With a new government in power, a key question arises: in a context where the trade war is likely to dominate priorities, what environmental policies will be put forward? This situation can be transformed into an opportunity to stand out by demonstrating leadership, but it also entails risk of rolling back advances that were made during the last government. During the election campaign, there were some concerning propositions about new fossil fuel infrastructure, and about false solutions such as carbon capture and storage. We will pressure the government to avoid setbacks and to focus on the future.
Keeping the government accountable
The Prime Minister and his government will have to respond to the crucial issues of protecting biodiversity, combating climate change and adapting to new environmental realities. The government's first decisions and the composition of cabinet and will be decisive for the future of environmental policies in Canada.
In the coming days and months, our team will be paying close attention to ministerial appointments, government orientations and budgetary decisions. The ecological transition must be considered in all decisions, especially on transport, agriculture and energy.
Adapting our actions
In this evolving context, we will continue our work on concrete initiatives in sustainable food, mobility, deconsumption and climate adaptation. These projects are essential for building resilience in the face of economic and environmental crises, seeking to make life easier for Canadians. By investing in solutions that are environmentally sustainable and that promote social justice we also reduce public health risks, strengthen our collective resilience and build more cohesive communities.
We are ready to work with the government to accelerate the implementation of these projects. We will also remain vigilant to ensure that the environment is at the heart of decision-making, as the government adapts Canada’s policies and economy to enhance our autonomy and independence during this period of instability.
Continued mobilization
The decisions taken in the coming months will be decisive for environmental progress. We will follow every stage of the governmental process to ensure that these issues are not relegated to the background.
Citizen action and collective commitment are essential as we demand ambitious and sustainable measures. Together, with our members, partners and supporters, we must redouble our efforts to make the environment a national priority.
