(OTTAWA) - The Green Party is disappointed the recent Ecofiscal Commission report ignores the important leadership role the federal government must take in a national carbon pricing strategy.
“It appears that the Ecofiscal Commission accepts uncritically the Harper Conservatives’ refusal to take a national leadership role in pricing carbon,” said Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada and Member of Parliament for Saanich – Gulf Islands. “ This is wrong. What the Commission proposes is a disturbingly complicated patchwork of different carbon pricing regimes and rules in every province that will seriously distort and impede investment across the country.”
“Of course, any national carbon pricing system has to be fully coordinated with provincial programs like those already in place in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec, but the Ecofiscal plan does not do this and will simply result in incoherence and ineffectiveness from the perspective of both producers and consumers.”
“Some of the provinces have taken important steps towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but I am shocked that this report marginalizes the important role that the federal government must play in pricing carbon,” continued Bruce Hyer, Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Canada.
“The Green Party strongly believes that a national carbon pricing system is essential if we want to get anywhere near acceptable targets for the reduction of greenhouse gases by mid-century,” said Ms. May.
Ms. May concluded, “A realistic carbon price raises costs and sends a clear signal to producers and consumers to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Canada’s overall goal must be a substantial decarbonization of our economy. The Green Party Carbon Fee and Dividend proposal will allow us to achieve a target of 65% less Carbon Dioxide in 2030 compared to 2005, and zero emissions by the end of the century. Our method reduces both Carbon emissions and poverty, and creates no new and expensive bureaucracy.”
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For additional information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Julian Morelli
Director of Communications
Green Party of Canada
cell: (613) 614 4916
office: (613) 562 4916 (224)
julian.morelli@greenparty.ca