Tag: environment

For 15 years, voters and those they elect have ignored the Environment Commissioner

Some in Canada will think it perfectly appropriate that Canadian governments have paid little heed to Canada’s environment commissioner annual warnings that Canada just hasn’t been getting it done when it comes to climate change. Others will find this review depressing that we have not got it done on climate change.

Whatever your view: Given the fact that we’ve had five general elections since 2000 (2 won by the Liberals, three by the Conservatives) and no party has been punished for failing to meet their own targets, it’s pretty clear that our politicians have gotten the message about how much heed they should pay the Environment Commissioner: Continue reading For 15 years, voters and those they elect have ignored the Environment Commissioner

NDP Convention: 2-02-13 Resolution on Updating the Federal Water Policy

The NDP Convention in Montreal debated the following resolution:

2-02-13 Resolution on Updating the Federal Water Policy

Submitted by the Quebec Section

BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP support updating the Federal Water Policy.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Policy must be updated in a manner respectful of provincial and municipal jurisdiction and First Nations over water management.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the policy’s core principles should include the notions already part of the NDP policy—that free universal access to clean water is a human right, and integrated water management must ensure that reserves of clean water are adequate to maintain aquatic ecosystems.

MP Jamie Nicholls spoke in support of this

NDP Convention: 2-01-13 Resolution on Coastal and Marine Area Protection

The NDP Convention in Montreal debated the following resolution Saturday morning:

2-01-13 Resolution on Coastal and Marine Area Protection

Submitted by Dartmouth—Cole Harbour

WHEREAS, Canada has the longest coastline in the world and Canadians expect and deserve healthy oceans and marine areas for present and future generations.

BE IT RESOLVED, that the following clause be added to section 2.1 of the policy book.

New Democrats believe in:

– Canada’s commitment to protect at least 10% of coastal and marine areas by 2020 as committed to under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

MP Robert Chisholm (Dartmouth) speaking in support of this motion.

Motion passes.

The Politics of Carbon Pricing

Like they did in 2008, in the 2011 general election campaign, Jack Layton and the New Democrats put an election platform before Canadians that included commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by, among other things, doing the following:

We will put a price on carbon through a cap-and-trade system, which will establish hard emissions limits for Canada’s biggest polluters to ensure companies pay their environmental bills and to create an incentive for emissions reductions;

In its costing statement for its election campaign commitments, the NDP said the federal government would receive the following revenues as a result of its cap-and-trade system: Continue reading The Politics of Carbon Pricing

Kent on Durban Platform: "fair and balanced framework"

Peter Kent at Durban
Australia’s Minister for Climate Change Greg Combet (left) speaks with Canada’s Environment Minister Peter Kent during a break in plenary session at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP17) in Durban December 10, 2011. REUTERS/Rogan Ward

The international conference on climate change in Durban, South Africa was supposed to wrap up on Friday but without a deal, all countries kept going and, early Sunday morning, came up with what they’re calling the Durban Platform. Here, for the record, is Canadian Environment Minister Peter Kent’s statement on Durban Platform:

Continue reading Kent on Durban Platform: "fair and balanced framework"