Prime Minister Trudeau’s recent decision to prorogue Parliament and announce his upcoming resignation may have left you wondering about what this could mean for climate change policy.

At Environmental Defence, we have two main take-aways: 

• Increased urgency: there are still a few critical climate policies that now have a shortened timeline to cross the finish line.
• All political leaders should be bolder on climate.

The Clock is Ticking on Key Climate Change Promises 

We have a fast approaching deadline for when any new rules need to be finalized: March 24th, when Members of Parliament are set to return to the House of Commons. It is unlikely that the government will last long once Parliament resumes. If a policy isn’t finalized before March 24th, it’s unlikely to ever be. As a refresher, although Parliament is not active during prorogation, civil servants and Ministers still are. 

At the top of the list of key climate regulations that need to be finalized before March 24th is the government’s cap on pollution from the oil and gas industry.

Emissions from the production of oil and gas is the largest source of climate pollution in Canada. Despite promises made by oil and gas companies, their pollution levels continue to rise. The result: worse and worse climate disasters like floods, fires and heatwaves, increased costs to Canadians, such as higher home insurance premiums or paying more for groceries due to supply chain disruptions and severe health impacts for those living near the operations. 

Without a strong oil and gas pollution cap, fossil fuel companies will continue to prioritize their profits at the expense of our health, climate and future. These new rules were promised over three years ago. We can’t afford any more delays. 

Also on the list of crucial policies that need to be passed before March 24th: an end to public tax dollars flowing to oil and gas companies. Over the last four years, the federal government’s total financial support to the oil and gas industry was at least $65 billion. We can’t solve the climate crisis while continuing to funnel taxpayer dollars to the companies fueling the crisis. The Government of Canada promised the new rules by the end of 2024, but they missed their deadline. Time is ticking! 

TAKE ACTION: Tell Canada to Stop Big Oil from Polluting our Climate

The government has a mandate to deliver these new measures to fight climate change. The only way to keep the promises made to Canadians is by getting these done before the end of March. 

People Across Canada are Calling for Climate Action – Political Leaders Must Listen 

While Canada is still somewhat of a global laggard on climate action, the current government has still accomplished a remarkable amount over its mandate, especially since many provinces have and continue to obstruct national climate change action.

The government’s record is far from perfect (just remember, they bought a pipeline – a huge gift to wealthy oil and gas companies). Still, they were able to implement carbon pricing, a climate accountability act, an electric vehicle sales standard, clean electricity rules, a sustainable jobs act and methane reduction regulations – and that’s not even an exhaustive list. 

Last month we polled Canadians to see what kind of climate action people want to see. 

The results were clear: the majority of people across Canada want to see governments in Canada tackle the climate crisis by prioritizing renewable energy and phasing out fossil fuels. Even in Alberta, which has the lowest support for renewable energy, only 18 per cent of respondents want to see fossil fuels prioritized. It’s no surprise given that renewable energy is healthier, costs less and creates jobs in communities right across the country.

Liberal leader hopefuls and political parties should all be paying attention to what people in Canada want. Climate is set to be a key differentiating issue in the upcoming election. Unfortunately, some political leaders are continuing to attack, scapegoat and lie about climate action policy – a major disservice to Canadians. 

We know that as people struggle with high rents, housing costs and grocery bills, affordability is top of mind. Many climate solutions will lead to really significant cost savings for families, including ensuring our homes are energy efficient, swapping gas furnaces for heat pumps and having access to electric vehicles and reliable public transit. 

The way to win support is to address the interlinked issues of affordability and climate. That will lead to a safer, healthier and more affordable future for everyone.