Jagmeet Singh, MP Leader, New Democratic Party – January 12 2021

Dear Mr Singh and Caucus Colleagues

Re: the proposed Climate Change Accountability Act and Bill C-12

We are climate change activists who consider the climate crisis the greatest challenge to our world, with the prospect of massive extinctions, well beyond the alarming deaths from the coronavirus pandemic.

Where is the NDP? The party has a particular role to play with a minority government, but we have not seen climate change raised as a crucial issue. Yes, pharmacare and poverty are important, but hardly more than climate change.

Do you know just how bad Canada’s record is on GHG emission reductions?

• Our emissions are 20% ABOVE 1990 levels, when we first made a commitment to reduce.
• Meanwhile, the UK has reduced its emissions by 40%, (1990-2018), Germany by 36% and the EU as a whole by 21%. Even the United States is less of a climate criminal than we are, with GHG emission increases at 7%.

Bill C-12 is a far cry from what we, with six major climate change organizations, urged the government to bring in. It staves off accountability to 2050, when Canada is already far behind in meeting targets. There is no independent review panel of experts.

Other proposals that would promote action are:

• The establishment of a Climate Change Officer, akin to the Public Health Officer, Dr Teresa Tam, to bring expertise without political partisanship.
• The revival of the National Roundtable on Environment and Economy, which did good work, then was terminated by Stephen Harper.
• Announcement of an improved target for 2030 (supposed to have been done by 2020).

At a practical level, we urge you to bring in a climate change expert to brief the caucus, as we have urged for Cabinet and other caucuses. Climate is a complex issue and legislators need to be up to date on it.

• Reductions in GHG emissions can be made by regulation through the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. We urge you to make concrete proposals to this end.

We would like to discuss options for replacement of Bill C-12 or its amendment with you and colleagues. A request to the critic for Environment and Climate Change for the NDP’s position on the bill  got no reply.

The UK law, which is a good model, was legislated under a Labour government. We would like to see such leadership with the NDP in Canada.

We would be happy to hold zoom meetings with MPs to pursue these issues. To arrange, please contact info@justearth.net

Yours sincerely