It’s been an incredibly difficult week for the Canadian federal government. This follows their recent moves to stall important climate efforts and repeal empty but helpful policies aimed at lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Environment and Climate Change Canada officials were given a tough time in front of a parliamentary committee hearing. Critics say these recent developments jeopardize Canada’s stated commitment to pervade its emissions reduction targets.
On Monday, the federal government granted the auto industry a one-year extension in the rollout of its zealous electric vehicle sales mandate. Originally, the mandate called for 20 percent of all new car, SUV and light-duty truck sales to be zero-emission vehicles by 2026. Now it would be implemented in 2027. To date, experts have cautioned that we have not fully measured the long-lasting effects of this delay. This lack of clarity has major implications for Canada’s ability to fulfill its climate commitments over the long term.
We would urge the federal government to reinstate a loan program for Canadians looking to carry out green home retrofits. This decision is in addition to the previous delays still continuing. Canada has already pledged to cut emissions 40 to 45 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. This decision is right in line with that ambitious aspirational goal. Critics argue that eliminating such programs undermines progress toward these ambitious targets and could hinder individual efforts to reduce carbon footprints.
The Conservative Party is currently pushing a parliamentary motion to scrap the emissions cap for oil and gas producers. This effort makes a bad situation even worse. On his first day in office, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s federal government rescinded the consumer carbon price. As a result of this decision, emissions will be allowed to increase by three megatonnes by 2030.
Environment Commissioner Jerry DeMarco expressed his alarm at Canada’s trajectory. Without a serious acceleration, he argues that the country is heading the wrong way to meet its 2030 goal. DeMarco noted that there remains 20 to 30 years of emissions reduction work needed before Canada can effectively catch up.
A report from the Canadian Climate Institute recently indicated that Canada’s 2030 emission target may now be out of reach. As these issues have become more public, opposition to the EV mandate has grown. In turn, the government has launched a 60-day statutory review to determine whether industry plans to meet their targets will result in adequate consumer choice at prices consumers want.
“We’re just in the middle of revising the projections with the most recent information to be able to respond directly to that question.” – Alison McDermott
In reaction to these developments, Ottawa circulated proposed regulations. These proposed regulations require that producers cut their emissions by an estimated one-third over the next eight years. Environmental advocates, industry leaders, and shipper associations are all engaged in an intense lobbying fight over these provisions. No doubt tough times are ahead for the feds.
Patrick Bonin, a climate policy analyst, criticized the government’s recent actions, stating, “It’s clear to me that the government has all that information and it’s walking back (climate policies) in many instances, while it wasn’t even on track to meet its 2030 emission reduction targets.”
Moreover, Megan Nichols highlighted that “the government has also announced its intent to review that regulation in more detail to make sure that industry will continue to be able to achieve the goals, and also that prices are affordable.” This represents a critical and necessary recognition by the federal government that lofty climate ambitions need to be more closely aligned with economic realities.
Notably, critics from all sectors have kept the pressure on. Nick Murray remarked, “They’re too embarrassed to show the true face of this government and the policies it’s dismantling in the fight against climate change.” Meanwhile, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre stated, “We’re giving Liberals an opportunity to vote here and now,” emphasizing his stance against the government’s recent policy shifts.
As the treaty negotiations draw nearer, specialists are preparing to publish updated projections for Canada’s emission targets. Look for these updates to come before the new year begins. How these assessments are done will ultimately determine how big of a role Canada’s fossil fuel production plays in climate mitigation moving forward.
