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February 6th, 2015

NDP REALITY CHECK: Justin Trudeau – Still lost on the environment

After raising expectations he would make a concrete proposal on the environment, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau failed to present a real plan for fighting climate change, making polluters pay for the pollution they create, or for properly balancing the environment and the economy.

His speech at the Petroleum Club in Calgary confirms that Trudeau will continue his do-nothing approach towards the environment, just like the previous Liberal government did nothing for thirteen years.

"Even if the measures contained in the previous [Liberal] government's 2005 plan had been fully implemented...in certain sectors, the measures are not up to the task of meeting the Kyoto obligations.” – Johanne Gélinas, federal Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, 2006 Report. “She notes that Stéphane Dion was the federal/provincial minister at the time and he was against Kyoto.” – Former environment minister Christine Stewart, in Northumberland Today, March 7, 2007 The Liberals were very … well, they just didn't do the hard things that were needed to meet the Kyoto target.” – David Suzuki, environmentalist, CTV “Question Period,” 14 January 2007

And let’s not forget their record since 2006:

  • Voted against and NDP motion calling for government action on climate change in 2013;
  • Supported plans for an oil terminal at Cacouna in eastern Quebec that threatens the habitat of Beluga whales;
  • Supported Conservative cheerleading on rip-and-ship pipelines like Keystone XL that will ship jobs out of Canada while increasing emissions.

With the speech, Trudeau has again shown his inexperience and lack of judgment. Canadians concerned about the environment can’t afford to wait for him to get ready.

Canadians deserve better.