Election 2015 – promises for a healthy environment

by Selena Randall

Do you actually read the mailings our incumbent MP has put in our mail boxes?

No, I thought not, you put them straight into the recycling box – waste of money and resources eh?

So where do you go to get an overview of the party policies when considering your vote for this year’s election? You go to the local grocery store, coffee shop, bar, diner, friends, family or the Carillon of course.

So what are the federal political parties promising to do to help us live in a healthy environment – here’s a few pointers for you.

The Conservatives:
Approved the Enbridge Northern Gateway oilsands pipeline( from Alberta to the coast of Kitimat, B.C.); support the proposed TransCanada Energy East pipeline ( from Alberta to New Brunswick); support the proposed TransCanada Keystone XL oilsands pipeline from Alberta to U.S. Gulf Coast; Committed to reducing Canada’s emissions by 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, through Provincial measures.  Agreed with other G7 nations to move to a low-carbon economy by 2050 and eliminate use of fossil fuels by the end of the century; They also plan a New Public Transit Fund.

The NDP promises to:
Continue opposing the Northern Gateway pipeline; opposes Keystone XL pipeline. Create a cap-and-trade system with a market price on carbon emissions to be invested in a greener energy sector in the regions where dollars are generated. Work with provinces to create a new fund to help Canadians retrofit their homes and offices to save energy and money. Redirect $1 billion a year from fossil fuel subsidies to investment in the clean energy sector. Invest in Sustainable Development Technology Canada – including wind, hydro, solar and geothermal technologies – to create thousands of new jobs for Canadians. Develop a better transit plan with the provinces and territories and invest $1.3 billion annually over next 20 years for predictable and stable public transit funding for municipalities.

The Liberals promise to:
Continue to oppose proposed Northern Gateway pipeline; support Energy East and Keystone XL pipelines. Put a price on carbon pollution that allows provinces to design their own carbon pricing policies. Partner with provinces and territories to establish national emissions-reduction targets. Invest millions in clean technologies and enhance tax measures to create more green jobs. Introduce an environmental review process with more “teeth.” Establish a framework for reducing Canada’s carbon footprint. Increase the amount of Canada’s protected marine and coastal areas to five per cent by 2017 and 10 per cent by 2020. Phase out subsidies for the fossil fuel industry. Develop a North American clean energy and environmental agreement. Provide infrastructure funding for affordable housing, public transit, transportation, climate change and “smart cities.”

The Greens promise to:
Introduce carbon pricing through a fee-and-dividend system to reduce fossil fuel use and encourage private sector investment in green tech, clean energy and green jobs. Accelerate construction of green infrastructure, ensuring a majority of Canada’s energy needs come from renewable sources by 2025. Work with the provinces to ensure no new coal-fired electrical generation plants are built in Canada. Reinvest in national rail systems, build more train cars, increase train speeds and phase in high-speed rail where feasible.

If you want more information on the promises they are making so you can choose which party will do the best for you check out: http://www.canada.com/news/decision-canada/promises.html