Canada's NDP

NDP

April 15th, 2021

Canadians deserve real action on climate change: NDP

NDP Critic for the Environment and Climate Change, Laurel Collins, made the following statement:

A few weeks ago, it wasn't clear to Canadians if the Conservative Party even thought climate change was real. Unfortunately, today's announcement doesn't make things much clearer - it does less for the climate than inadequate Liberal commitments while failing to put more money in Canadians' pockets.

The climate crisis is here, and Canadians expect climate leadership from their federal government now. Inaction on climate change has real consequences for Canadian families, businesses and governments right now and in the future.

What the Conservatives announced today is no plan at all - it's even weaker than Liberal commitments when it comes to reducing emissions and does even less to reimburse families for the costs of carbon. The Conservatives say they want more money in Canadians' pockets, but Erin O'Toole's new plan doesn't even do that. Instead of trusting families to make choices that work for them, the Conservatives want to sign you up for a savings account you can't even use as you need on emergencies or on essentials.

Canadians don't need or want a carbon points card they can cash in for an approved list of prizes – they want real action and a government that takes the climate crisis and their communities seriously.

The Conservatives' failure doesn't let the Liberals off the hook - under the Trudeau government, emissions have continued to rise every year.

Justin Trudeau wants to make Canadians believe that he is taking the climate crisis seriously. Then he buys a pipeline. He gives hundreds of millions of dollars to oil and gas companies. He exempts big polluters from paying for their pollution.

Some Conservatives don’t believe that climate change is real; Liberals don’t act like it’s real.

Rather than do the right thing, Liberals and Conservatives keep choosing to give polluters a break, and people and our climate are paying the price.

Only New Democrats have a plan to take real action on climate change that protects families and communities while investing in the next generation of jobs across the country.