Liberals care more about looking like climate leaders than delivering results for Canadians: NDP

OTTAWA – People across Canada are already living with the dire impacts of the climate emergency, and they expect the federal government to take the bold action needed to meet the urgency of the crisis. Earlier this week, the NDP Environment and Climate Change Critic, Laurel Collins, tried to call on parliamentarians to end all fossil fuel subsidies, but members from other parties wouldn’t even allow that important conversation to happen.

"Canadians are frustrated and angry that the Liberal government continues to give billions of dollars in fossil fuel subsidies to oil and gas companies making record profits," said Laurel Collins. "We have seen report after report from the Environment commissioner warning people that the Liberal government’s approach to the climate crisis is not working. We’re running out of time. New Democrats will keep pushing for significant investments in proven climate solutions, renewable energy and support for all workers impacted by the climate crisis—whether other parties want to hear it or not.”

Despite the Liberal government's promises, they are still giving billions to the oil and gas sector each year. This week, department officials confirmed at the Environment committee that the government has made no progress on their commitment to end the public financing of the fossil fuel sector. In response to lobbying from Big Oil, the Liberals implemented a new subsidy that gives a massive tax credit for carbon capture. While the Liberal government fails to meet climate targets or provide a real plan to support energy workers, they keep giving the fossil fuel industry public money.

Earlier this week, at the Environment committee, when asked to explain why the Liberals were lobbying the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) instead of taking meaningful action, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change could not respond. The Liberal government seems more interested in looking like climate leaders instead of actually ending fossil fuel subsidies and hitting Canada’s climate targets.

“The Liberal government has repeatedly ignored the advice of scientists and industry experts – choosing to protect the profits of the oil and gas sector instead of Canadians,” said Collins. “Canada needs to start funding a just transition that moves our country towards renewable energy, removes fossil fuel subsidies and supports our workers now. The NDP will keep fighting for Canadians to ensure a safer, more secure and greener future for generations to come.”