Environmental Issues in the 2011 Canadian Federal Election

Source: The Green Market

In 2008, the Conservatives belittled the opposition’s green initiatives, and similarly, the 2011 Conservative platform offers very little on the green front. The two parties that are most likely to win in the upcoming Canadian election are the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party. However, neither party is likely to win a majority and most pundits are expecting another minority government. As a regional party the Bloc Quebecois has not been included in this review.

After the opposition Liberals lost to the Conservatives in the 2008 federal election, Liberal leader Stephane Dion quit and was replaced by Michael Ignatieff. Although a far cry from Dion’s 2008 Green Shift, in 2011, the Liberal Party under Ignatieff are still the greener choice of the two major parties.

The Liberal Party has a comprehensive plan to create clean energy jobs. Liberals will make an historic investment in clean energy and energy efficiency, quadrupling Canada’s production of renewable energy, and creating a cap and trade system with hard caps leading to absolute reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. This strategy, combined with a commitment to protect Canada’a air, oceans, waterways, forests and Arctic, are intended to restore Canada’s place as an environmental leader.

Despite the deplorable Conservative track record on the environment, they are still trying to claim they are environmentally concerned. The truth is they left Canadian oceans vulnerable to oil spills, made no progress on greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and blocked progress at international climate change summits.

The Conservative Party are nonetheless trying to take credit for establishing regulations on greenhouse gases and air pollution. They have preserved some land and marine areas, while banning toxic chemicals and creating new labeling guidelines.

The New Democratic party rejects the claim of a fundamental contradiction between environmental health and economic growth. They advocate developing green energy industries as an opportunity for job creation as well as encouraging environmental technologies and practices, which in turn help to foster innovations in manufacturing.

New Democrats believe that reshaping energy policy for the 21st century means moving away from fossil-fuel dependence toward a green future by investing in energy derived from solar, wind, wave, and geothermal. They support working closely with Canada’s provinces and territories to share clean energy; and ensure energy conservation in transportation and building methods. A New Democrat government will strive to make Canada a global environmental leader by incorporating strong environmental standards in trade agreements and ensuring Canadian companies operating abroad will be held to standards and practices that reduce their footprint and leave local ecosystems in good health.

The Green Party‘s Elizabeth May has said “I hold a vision of this blue green planet, safe and in balance. At the end of the Fossil Fuel Era, we are emerging to a new reality. We are ready to make the next leap – as momentous as abolishing slavery or giving women the vote. We are ready to make the fundamental shifts that allow us to live in balance with our life support systems, respecting each other, achieving social and economic justice, peace and democracy.” The Green Party believes in sound fiscal management and strengthening the Canadian economy while ensuring that it is sustainable. They believe that government must provide needed social services while protecting our environment and human rights. However, they have no seats and are very unlikely to play a major role in forthcoming elections.

The conservatives are the first party in office to be brought down on contempt charges in the history of the Canadian commonwealth. Recently four of the Conservative’s top officials have been charged with election overspending and two RCMP investigations have been launched against former political staffers. It is ironic that the Conservatives were first elected to office in 2006 on the promise of having an honest and transparent party.

Elections in Canada are usually decided on economic issues. Environmental concerns are a vital economic issue. A government that addresses the environment is positioning canada for a vibrant economic future. A government which avoids these issues is putting Canada at an economic disadvantge that will prevent the nation from being internationally competitive. Before voting on May 2nd, all Canadians should look at each party’s environmental platform.

The Conservative budget that led to the no confidence vote that brought down this government contained $400 million for the ecoEnergy retrofit program. The conservative budget also devoted an equal amount ($400 million) for nuclear programs and over one billion for oil and gas subsidies. As evidenced by their last five years in office and the budget, the Conservatives and the environment are like oil and water, they do not mix well.