{"id":12410,"date":"2020-11-29T08:26:15","date_gmt":"2020-11-29T13:26:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bygeorgejournal.ca\/?p=12410"},"modified":"2023-07-24T20:52:04","modified_gmt":"2023-07-25T00:52:04","slug":"trudeaus-environmental-agenda-repeated-promises-and-plans-of-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bygeorgejournal.ca\/?p=12410","title":{"rendered":"Trudeau\u2019s Environmental Agenda: repeated promises and plans of plans"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Niagara Independent, November 27, 2020\u00a0 \u2013 <\/em>This week it was reported that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was fooled by a prank caller pretending to be Greta Thunberg, who wished to discuss climate change and exchange insights with Trudeau on global environmental issues. The call turned out to be an embarrassing ruse. Perhaps though it was karma for the PM, who has been bluffing Canadians for years on matters of the environment.<\/p>\n

The latest chapter in the Trudeau environmental agenda begins with the tabling of the long-anticipated climate change legislation \u2013\u00a0Bill C-12, an Act respecting transparency and accountability in Canada\u2019s efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050<\/em>. This legislation was expected to set greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for the years 2030, 2035, 2040 and 2045, with the ultimate goal of achieving a net-zero carbon Canadian economy by 2050.<\/p>\n

For months now environmentalists have been told to expect hard targets, an explicit commitment to meet the targets, and penalties established for failing to reach the targets. Instead, the government served up what is essentially a plan to develop a plan. Bill C-12 requires the government to assemble an advisory group, to schedule the setting of targets every five years, and to publicly report every five years on the progress being made. There is no explicit commitment for the government to reach its 2050 target \u2013 and no penalties or legal consequences if it fails to do so.<\/p>\n

The legislation does not set out how the federal government will engage provinces in its national emissions reduction plan, or how the government\u2019s agenda will be financed and paid for by Canadian businesses and taxpayers. Are Canadians to assume these details will be studied by the government\u2019s advisory group?<\/p>\n

In the act of tabling Bill C-12 the Trudeau Liberals tout that they now have fulfilled their election promise \u201cto be more aggressive at cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and to get Canada to net-zero emissions by 2050.\u201d The PM told Canadians the legislation is \u201can accountability framework\u201d that will \u201censure we reach this net-zero goal in a way that gives Canadians confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

But as with many of his green initiatives it is evident that the PM\u2019s description of the legislation is hyperbolic. The fact is Bill C-12\u2019s only mandatory accountability measure is that the government must set its new emission reduction target for 2030 within nine months after the legislation is passed, and then additional targets for every subsequent five years. So, if Bill C-12 is passed in this minority Parliament, the Liberals will have an additional grace period to consider establishing a 2030 target \u2013 in other words, getting a serious target is a decade away.<\/p>\n

The lack of clarity surrounding the Liberals\u2019 plans did not stop an Environment Minister spokesperson to double down on the promise to exceed current 2030 emission targets \u2013 and to also take a back swipe at the country\u2019s oil and gas industry. In a\u00a0Toronto Star<\/em>\u00a0feature on the new legislation, Liberal staffer Moira Kelly stated, \u201cOur government is committed to exceed Canada\u2019s 2030 emissions reduction target, and we recognize that addressing oil and gas sector methane emissions provides some of the most cost-effective approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

Respectfully, this is hollow political rhetoric. Based on the latest federal data (2018 figures), to meet Canada\u2019s current 2030 targets for industrial greenhouse gas emissions, the country would be required to reduce emissions from 729 million tonnes to 511 million tonnes. To achieve a 218 million tonnes drop, Canada would have to completely shut down the equivalent of either the country\u2019s transportation sector or its oil and gas sector within the next ten years.<\/p>\n

On this point, Conservative environment critic, MP Dan Albas blasted Trudeau and the Environment Minister for not being forthcoming about the impact their green agenda would have on the country. Albas said, \u201cJustin Trudeau needs to be transparent with Canadians about his plan for achieving net zero.\u00a0Canadians are worried that he plans to dramatically increase carbon taxes, and they are worried about the impact this will have on the cost of gas, groceries and home heating.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is also the fact that the Trudeau Government has missed Canada\u2019s 2020 emission targets by a whopping 99.2 per cent. In 2015, the newly-minted PM stated 2020 emission levels would be 17 per cent lower than 2005 levels \u2013 which would in effect reduce carbon emissions from 730 to 606 million tonnes. Government data today revels the 2020 levels emitted are 729 million tonnes. Trudeau\u2019s five years in office has realized no impact on the country\u2019s carbon emissions.<\/p>\n

The new legislation proposing the planning of a plan to reach an ultimate net-zero carbon economy is reflective of the Trudeau Government\u2019s entire environment agenda. It is heavy on rhetoric and lacks serious intent and follow-through. Consider these hallmark green initiatives PM Trudeau has showcased in the last five years.<\/p>\n