QuestionS

If elected, will your party fund green infrastructure projects that prioritize emissions reductions and resiliency to climate change?

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  Metro Vancouver is already experiencing the impacts of climate change. Unprecedented wildfire activity in western North America has resulted in a record-breaking number of air quality advisories over the past several years, and this year alone we have experienced extraordinarily damaging heat waves and wildfires. It is expected that these smoky skies will continue, along with drier, hotter summers and warmer, wetter winters. These seasonal changes in weather patterns will result in extended drought periods, an increase in rainfall intensity and a one-metre rise in sea level by 2100. This level of environmental change will significantly impact the quality of life in the region and have severe financial impacts for residents, businesses and governments if we don’t prepare. It is absolutely essential to ensure that Metro Vancouver’s infrastructure is resilient to the changing climate and other potential disasters.

  Metro Vancouver is in the process of implementing a regional climate strategy—Climate 2050—that will guide climate change policy and action in the region for the next 30 years. Metro Vancouver’s Board also committed to being a carbon neutral region by 2050. Despite this progress, actions must be accelerated to reduce our impacts on global climate change, to protect public health and the environment and to adapt to the anticipated impacts from a changing climate.

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  Response not yet received.

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  The Liberal Party is the only party with a credible, costed, and ambitious plan that tackles climate change, and seizes the opportunities of the green economy and positions Canada for long-term economic growth. In addition to providing essential services, infrastructure projects generate hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions in economic benefits. Building green infrastructure projects is the key component of our climate action plan, and to our economic recovery.

  One key area of investment will be in public transition, particularly in electrification, which are critical to Canada’s meeting its climate targets, as the transportation sector accounts for about 25% of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.

  That is why our Liberal government established a permanent public transit fund and is working with all orders of government to get the most out of investment in public transit. We also previously invested $2.75 billion over five years through the Zero Emissions Bus Fund to enhance public transit systems by switching over to cleaner, electrical power.

  Canada also has one of the cleanest power grids in the world – and a re-elected Liberal government will partner with provinces and territories to develop a truly national power grid that will secure affordable and net-zero power for all Canadians and create good jobs in the process.

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  For decades, Liberal and Conservative governments have refused to fix the climate crisis. Justin Trudeau promised to be different—he even marched with young people at the climate march. But he’s failed to deliver climate action. Just like the Conservatives, he’s on track to miss every target he’s ever committed to.

  New Democrats know that when it comes to the climate crisis, it’s about making our priorities clear. We have a bold, ambitious climate plan that will ensure that we meet the climate targets that scientists say we need to avoid catastrophe.

  Our path to a sustainable future starts with eliminating fossil fuel subsidies for profitable oil and gas companies and closing loopholes that let big polluters off the hook. We will re-direct public funding that previously went into subsidies to empower municipalities to prepare for climate risks and build climate resilient infrastructure.

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  Yes. The Green Party of Canada will fund green infrastructure projects that prioritize emissions reductions and resiliency to climate change. Measures include:

  • Supporting the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ request for rapidly scaled up funding through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) to support climate resilience projects critically needed to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
  • Development of a national renewable energy electricity grid
  • Creation and implementation of a national green retrofit of existing residential, commercial, institutional and industrial buildings;
  • Changing the national building code to require that all new construction and major renovations to older buildings meet net-zero standards by 2030;
  • Undertaking a green retrofit of all federal government buildings, including government agencies;
  • Investing in state-of-the-art assessment of climate change impact risks and planning with associated disaster management measures.

If elected, will your party expand funding for natural infrastructure to support access to nature, environmental preservation and restoration, and climate mitigation?

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  Protecting and enhancing natural areas and their connectivity will be essential in helping species and ecosystems adapt to climate change. Metro Vancouver is a region with a rich and diverse natural environment that provides important ecosystem services including clean air and water, pollination, flood control and cooling of urban areas. Furthermore, many aspects of the region’s ecosystems hold cultural significance to First Nations, and healthy ecosystems provide the basis for local food security and prosperity for us all. Soil, forests, wetlands, and other ecosystems also contribute to the regulation of the global climate by removing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Protecting and enhancing parks, natural spaces and ecosystems will be essential to environmental preservation and restoration, and will help communities mitigate the impacts of climate change.

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  Response not yet received.

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  To protect and conserve nature across the country, the Liberal government made the two single-largest investments in nature conservation in Canadian history— $1.3 billion in Budget 2018 and $3.3 billion in Budget 2021—which will allow us to protect a quarter of our lands and marine areas by 2025.

  A re-elected Liberal government will fulfill the Budget 2021 commitment of providing a $1.4-billion top-up to the Disaster Mitigation and Adaption Fund to support projects such as wildfire mitigation activities, rehabilitation of storm water systems, and restoration of wetlands and shorelines.

  We also invested $200 million in a new, first-of-its-kind Natural Infrastructure Fund earlier this year, and a re-elected Liberal government will invest an additional $200 million to support projects that use natural or hybrid approaches to protect the natural environment, support healthy and resilient communities, contribute to economic growth, and improve access to nature for Canadians.

  Lastly, we recognize that Indigenous peoples have stewarded these lands and waters since time immemorial. That’s why we will continue to work with First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners to support new Indigenous Guardians programs and establish new Indigenous Guardians Networks, as well as support Indigenous communities to build capacity to establish more Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas.
  

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  New Democrats will permanently double the Canada Community-Building Fund to provide an extra $2.2 billion a year to municipalities. On top of this federal funding, New Democrats will provide $3 billion for disaster-related infrastructure to help communities proactively adapt their infrastructure to withstand floods, forest fires and other extreme weather events. In addition to building green infrastructure, New Democrats will implement a Nature agenda to invest in natural infrastructure that will include restoring and expanding protections for Canada’s watersheds, investing in forest management, and working with farmers to support biodiversity. We also commit to protecting 30% of our land, freshwater, and oceans by 2030. New Democrats will also launch a 10 year plan to reverse species loss, curb the import and domestic trade of wild animals, and enforce the Species at Risk Act.

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  Yes. As noted above, the Green Party of Canada would increase funding for the DMAF to support climate resilience projects including wildfire mitigation activities, rehabilitation of storm water systems, and restoration of wetlands, shorelines, and other natural infrastructure.