What are your priorities for climate justice?

We must address the climate crisis with the urgency it deserves.

This summer, we have seen the impact of the climate emergency first hand. Bad air quality caused by wildfire smoke affected us in Winnipeg, as well as in other cities including Ottawa and Montreal. The climate emergency is here, and it’s a direct threat to our health.

According to climate scientists, July was the hottest month on record globally. Wildfires led to the evacuation of thousands of people from a Greek island, and Antarctic sea ice has been at record lows. The head of the UN has said that “the era of global warming is over; the era of global boiling has arrived.” This needs to be a wake up call.

While the Liberals talk a good game on climate, their actions speak much louder than words. Despite promising to end fossil fuel subsidies, the federal government continues to hand over billions to big oil. They bought the Trans Mountain Pipeline, the cost of which has ballooned to over $31 billion dollars. Real climate leaders don’t buy pipelines, and we need real climate leadership now more than ever.

End Fossil Fuel Subsidies Now!

Every year, the federal government provides $14 billion in subsidies to big oil companies. These corporations are making record profits, while fuelling the very climate crisis threatening our health and wellbeing. Instead of spending billions annually on handouts to major polluters, the Trudeau government should be funding initiatives that benefit people and the planet such as retrofitting buildings, electrifying public transit, and building thousands of energy efficient, affordable homes. These investments would improve our quality of life, reduce our carbon gas emissions, and create good green jobs.

Although the Liberals announced that they will phase out “inefficient” fossil fuel subsidies, many harmful subsidies continue under their new scheme. This is unacceptable, it’s time to completely eliminate all fossil fuel subsidies.