Statement from the NDP on Bill C-12

NDP critic for environment and climate change, Laurel Collins, and NDP critic for infrastructure and communities, Taylor Bachrach, made the following statement:

For years, New Democrats have made climate accountability a key priority. Jack Layton, our former leader, was the first to propose Canada’s climate change targets be enshrined in legislation. His 2006 Climate Change Accountability Act passed in the House of Commons before ultimately being killed in the Senate.

Canadians are clear – they are tired of governments setting long-term emissions reduction targets without any intention of meeting them and without mechanisms to hold them accountable when they are off track. That is why we welcomed the government’s Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act and committed ourselves to working collaboratively with all parties to address flaws within the bill – as those in the environmental community and civil society have urged us to.

While some parties threw in the towel and others outright fought the bill, the NDP used every lever we could reach to ensure Canada finally gets a climate accountability law that is able to hold this government and future governments to account for the climate commitments they make. To their credit, Minister Wilkinson and his team welcomed our feedback and engaged in good faith towards making Bill C-12 better for Canadians.

The most significant shortcoming of Bill C-12 has been its lack of near-term accountability measures on the path to 2030. That is why during the clause-by-clause at Committee, the NDP will be proposing amendments that the government has agreed to support that will put in place a 2026 interim emissions objective as well as progress reports in 2023 and 2025. We have also jointly agreed to a number of other amendments like making the advisory body more independent, reviewing the 2030 target in 2025, and enshrining the role of Indigenous knowledge.

From the beginning our objective was to ensure that Bill C-12 provides more than just empty words. With these amendments in place, New Democrats feel the bill can now play a meaningful role in providing the accountability measures Canadians deserve. In order to avoid this bill suffering the same fate as Jack Layton’s bill, we will work in good faith to ensure the bill is sent to the Senate before the end of this session.

The climate crisis remains an urgent priority and an existential threat. It calls on all of us to be courageous, act decisively, and be accountable. Future generations are counting on us. Let’s show that we are equal to the challenge.