By: Cathy Orlando
In late November 2016, I directed the lobbying efforts of Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) volunteers on Parliament Hill for the eleventh time since November 2011. We experienced our most productive week of lobbying ever.
We lobbied 40 Members of Parliament and one senator, as well as the staff of six parliamentarians for improvements in Canada’s national carbon pricing policy.
In October, PM Justin Trudeau announced that Canada will establish a floor price on carbon pollution of $10 a tonne in 2018, rising to $50 a ton by 2022.
Canada has turned a corner on climate action. However, the reality is Canada’s current greenhouse gas emissions targets are woefully inadequate, and the current carbon pricing plan needs improvements. Three improvements in the carbon pricing policy we lobbied for included:
- That the national carbon price continues to rise past 2022 with the objective of Canada becoming a world leader in tackling the climate crisis and in the clean tech industry.
- That the federal government work with the provinces and territories to ensure provincial carbon pricing systems can keep up with the rising federal minimum carbon price without imposing any additional burdens on low and middle income Canadians. For example, the federal government could propose carbon fee and dividend as a model policy.
- Border tax adjustments must be included in the policy to level the playing field for domestic industries with international jurisdictions without a similar carbon price.
Laurentian University economist, Dr. David Robinson was on our border tax adjustment panel at the conference.
He says, "Working for a carbon fee and dividend is the most effective action I can take to save lives. There is terrific leverage to acting here and now with the 42nd Parliament. Getting a carbon fee and dividend policy with border tax adjustments in Canada will spur carbon pricing around the world."
Local Sudbury pediatrician, Dr. Elaine Blacklock made her third trek in 2016 to Parliament Hill. She is deeply concerned about the climate crisis.
"It’s the lack of outrage, the lack of urgency that worries me, and unfortunately most of the people I meet in day to day life are pretty much the same” says Blacklock.
“CNN has had a series of specials on the Sixth Extinction and one phrase caught my attention: “it’s worse than you think” That is unfortunately true of climate change too. It’s way worse than most people think. There is no sense of urgency in the actions of our politicians."
We had three youth under the age of 18 lobbying with us including my nine-year old daughter Sophia. They joined us when lobbied the Honourable Thomas Mulcair, leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada.
Mr. Mulcair focused on the youth in the room and he was adamant that we must preserve the climate for future generations. Sophia says she lobbies because "I am protecting my future."
I have known since being trained by Vice President Al Gore in 2008, all we lack is political will to shift to a low carbon economy. CCL volunteers want Canada to lead the fight to save the global climate, and we are here to help politicians achieve this noble goal.
In 2016, we have documented 162 face-to-face meetings with federal parliamentarians specifically to discuss Canada’s national carbon pricing policy. Thus, 2016 will be our biggest year yet of lobbying federal parliamentarians ever too.
I have read the lobbying reports from our 2016 efforts. It has been a very long time since I have felt this hopeful about the future.
This Christmas season, I watched the Star Wars movie, Rogue 1. I agree with the key line in the movie, “Rebellions are built on hope.”
