What can we expect for climate change commitments?
From worldwide climate action movements to youth-led coalitions, climate change has been a critical point of discussion in the federal elections—and a defining factor in Canadians’ electoral decisions. While the science of climate change is indisputable, candidates have varied proposals for how to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions and, ultimately, make Canada a global leader in sustainability and climate change activism.
Where do each of the federal parties stand on climate change and what can we expect in the upcoming election?
Liberal
As part of the Liberal Party’s plan to cut all emissions by 2050, party leader Justin Trudeau aims to reduce taxes to 4.5 percent for small, clean technology businesses. The move is estimated to cost about $15 million in 2020-21 and rise to about $67 million by 2023-24. Additionally, the party aims to invest in creating clean jobs, investing $100 million more each year in clean technology producers and an additional $200 million to support innovation in Canada’s natural resource sectors.
“We’re not just investing in clean tech, and public transit, and climate resilient infrastructure —we’re investing in Canada’s future. We’re investing in our kids, and we’re investing in a better tomorrow,” says Trudeau at a Burnaby press conference.
An extensive review of the National Energy Board and Canada’s environmental assessment processes will also be conducted to ensure transparency between community members, government, and credible environmental assessments.
From the Liberal Party’s official website: “Canadians must be able to trust that the government will engage in appropriate regulatory oversight, including credible environmental assessments, and that it will respect the rights of those most affected, such as Indigenous communities.”
Conservative
The Conservative party plans to spend $250 million to create venture capital funds focused on green technology. Much of their platform focuses on creating green investments through industry research on green technology, funds for companies developing clean technology, and post-secondary programs that advance research and development.
Party leader, Andrew Scheer, also wants to input a Green Homes Tax Credit (GHTC), a two-year plan that incentivizes Canadians to undergo sustainable home improvements by rebating a 20 percent refundable credit. The credit is expected to cost nearly $900 million per year. A similar Green Patent Credit will also be created to incentivize research, reducing the tax rate to 5 percent. Overtime, this will cost $20 million per year, rising to $80 million after four years. The Conservative party pushes creating such green incentives, criticizing the Trudeau government for implementing their Carbon Tax.
NDP
The NDP party plans to reach net carbon-free electricity by 2030 and move to 100 percent non-emitting electricity by 2050. Additionally, the party plans to create energy-efficient retrofits on all buildings by 2050 and expand and modernize sustainable public transit by 2030.
According to leader Jagmeet Singh, the party plans to spend $15 billion on green incentives such as creating clean jobs, funding research and innovation, improving and making transit cleaner and more affordable, and Indigenous protection efforts.
“This plan describes specific reductions from this first set of measures that we will put into action right away, reducing Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions to 450 Mt by 2030,” he states.
“We will mobilize Canadians, other levels of government, labour, and industry to identify other sources of innovation and emissions reductions and close the gap by 2030.”
The NDP party also plans to eliminate all fossil fuel subsidies by 2030, focusing on greener energy alternatives.
Green
In a massive climate action plan unveiled on September 16th, the Green Party pledged to cut 60 percent of carbon emissions by 2030, roughly half of the current federal target of 30 percent. Following this plan, net emissions are estimated to be eliminated by 2050. The party also aims to invest in renewable forms of transportation such as electric vehicles and modernizing the existing VIA rail while expanding service to rural or remote areas. By 2030, the Green party wants to ensure all new vehicles are electric and replace all internal combustion engines with electric vehicles by 2040.
Party leader Elizabeth May noted that she wants to cancel the Trans Mountain pipeline, subsidies to the fossil fuel industry, and existing foreign oil imports, criticizing the current Liberal government’s past decisions regarding multi-billion-dollar pipeline deals and fossil fuel imports. May also plans to work alongside all levels of government and Indigenous communities when addressing climate change proposals.
“We will engage in meaningful nation-to-nation relations with Indigenous peoples and ensure that all levels of government – federal, provincial/territorial, municipal and Indigenous (FN, Métis and Inuit)—are involved in setting high-level national goals,” she states.
