Aller à la navigation Aller au contenu

Actualité  •  2 min

Federal consultations on climate change

Publié le 

To mark Earth Day this past April 22, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed the Paris Agreement on climate change, showing unprecedented support among all world leaders. In doing so, Canada has agreed to keep the increase in global average temperature to 1.5°C.

But the challenge remains: How will we achieve this goal? The Canadian government is currently working on a new climate plan—and it wants your ideas. 

How to participate?

Online : The government of Canada has launched an online platform where Canadians can share their recommendations. Don’t hesitate to submit your bold ideas!

In person : Catherine McKenna, our Minister of Environment and Climate Change, has organized the first public consultation on climate change in her riding of Ottawa. She has also encouraged other members of Parliament to organize similar public consultations in their own ridings. 

The following dates have already been confirmed:

May 24 - Ville-Marie-Sud-Ouest-Ile-des-Soeurs, Marc Miller
May 25 - Ottawa 
June 12 - Lasalle-Ville-Émard-Verdun, David Lametti
June 18 - Vaudreuil-Soulanges

What you can do

1. Call your member of parliament and ask him/her to step up and organize a public consultation in your riding. Need the contact information for your deputy? Visit the Parliament of Canada website. www.parl.gc.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members

2. Participate in a public consultation. See the interactive map to find a consultation near you.

Here are some non-negotiable points that must be addressed in future Canadian policies about climate change :

  • We want an ambitious action plan on climate change that’s based on science and that will help Canada meet the international commitment made upon signature of the Paris Agreement to limit the increase in global average temperature to 1.5°C.
  • We want a plan that will transform the Canadian economy with 100%-renewable energies by 2050.
  • We want a consistent and sustainable transition that will support labour throughout the transformation to a low-carbon economy, as well as create stable and secure jobs in the new economy.
  • We want First Nations and Indigenous Peoples to be consulted and involved in the transition to a low-carbon economy, and to have their rights respected.
Other, more specific ideas being defended by Équiterre 

GHG mitigation measures

  • Development of the oil sands and construction of new pipelines are incompatible with our goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • All energy projects in Canada should undergo rigorous climate assessment. 
  • The federal government needs to prioritize investment in renewable energy projects across Canada (wind, solar, geothermal and hydro-electric).
  • All coal-fired power plants in Canada need to be closed by 2030.
  • Increased federal investment in public transport, including financing for active transport and car sharing, as well as urban planning that better integrates well-designed pedestrian and bike paths .
  • Encourage the sales of zero-emission vehicles in Canada, specifically, a federal zero-emission law for the Canadian automotive industry.
  • Federal and provincial incentives (buying discounts) for those who choose electric automobiles and building charging stations across Canada.
  • More ambitious GHS regulations on all models of new cars sold in Canada.
  • Ensuring that all federal infrastructure expenditures are regulated by strict standards that support GHG reduction goals.
  • A set of new standards for new constructions in Canada; i.e. LEED Platinum and zero-emissions, no less!
  • Federal incentives for energy-efficient renovations in residential and commercial buildings.

Carbon tax

  • A carbon tax in every province and territory, that is applicable on all economic sectors by 2017
  • Annual increases in the carbon tax
  • Partial revenues would be reinvested in clean technologies and GHG-reducing projects
     

Clean technologies and jobs

A sustainable transition towards a low-carbon economy

  • Support measures (transitional and training initiatives) to help labour in the Canadian petroleum and gas sectors make the transition, especially in those areas hit hardest by drops in oil prices. Measures include training programs for clean technologies, as well as an employment insurance program for impacted workers.