Like many, the pandemic gave me an opportunity to self-reflect on my life and my role in the world. As a scientist, I thought we could solve the world’s problems with technology, that every issue could be fixed with human ingenuity. I came to the realization that while science and innovation is necessary, it is insufficient to make the change we need to address complex problems such as a global pandemic or worsening climate change.
We need technology, finance and policy, all working together to move the needle. I looked around and saw that technology was advancing, that financers and institutional investors were starting to act and demand more from companies, but that government and policy were lagging behind technology and the markets.
I have spent my career developing clean technology, first as a researcher and highly cited scientist in academia, then as a startup entrepreneur and Carbon XPRIZE finalist, and most recently as the youngest director at the National Research Council of Canada leading a $46 million program to develop made-in-Canada clean technology. I know what it takes to go from discovery to product, from innovation to impact. I’ve found that often it’s not the science or even the funding that is a killer, but rather the policy landscape that fuels a new technology’s growth.
Government action and policy can move quickly in the face of a crisis. We saw that with the COVID-19 pandemic and the massive response to bring life-saving vaccines to market in record time. That same level of urgency and response needs to happen now to address climate change. Governments have the overarching power to set the stage for the transition and have the stimulus power to ensure that people in heavy emission sectors have a clean job to transition to.
This transition is increasingly being requested by society. Consumers, especially younger generations, are demanding that the products that they buy and the services that they use are sustainable. That will only accelerate as the effects of climate change continue. Not only is sustainability good for the planet and its people, but it is also good business too.
The private sector can do its part to encourage green policies. Companies can trial sustainable practices, policies and programs that could be implemented by governments such as municipalities. They can advocate for more sustainable policies and invest in clean technologies that will competitively position them for the transition. Becoming a first mover in the clean economy is a massive advantage. Companies should be working with governments to derisk those investments and make it easier to do so. Imagine if those billions of fossil fuel subsides were put towards supporting decarbonization technologies that companies could use to create more sustainable supply chains.
Becoming a first mover in the clean economy is a massive advantage. Companies should be working with governments to derisk those investments and make it easier to do so.
Despite the science being clear for years, society and consumers demanding more action and investors increasingly seeking more sustainable portfolios, many governments are not on track to meet their Paris Agreements. We need governments to act with greater urgency, and after seeing far too many governments make promises that were never kept, I have decided to run for office to spur that change.
I have left science and my dream job to run to become a Member of Parliament for the Green Party in Toronto. The Canadian system is a parliamentary democracy based off the United Kingdom. People vote for local representatives that are affiliated with a party. The winner of an electoral district in a general election becomes a Member of Parliament (MP) and that party gets a seat in the House of Commons. The party with the most seats becomes the majority party in power, and the leader of that party becomes Prime Minister.
There are a few major parties in Canada: the Liberals (current party in power); Conservatives; National Democratic Party; Bloc Quebecois; and the Green Party. I’m running because we must move faster to combat the threat of climate change and sustainably renew our society and economy. I’m running because we need more diversity in parliament and more science in policy. I’m running because I want to lower the barriers for other non-traditional candidates to consider running, because a diverse government is robust and resilient.
I believe diversity is a strength, which is why I’m very passionate about lowering the barriers of entry, especially for non-traditional candidates. Being a young millennial, a Filipino-Canadian, a scientist and cleantech innovator — these are all things that are not typically represented in politics. I think that needs to change. To help demystify the process of running for office in Canada, I’m vlogging my campaign journey so that other non-traditional candidates, regardless of party, will consider running.
We need more green innovators in politics, more people who understand the complex challenges and the massive opportunities that a clean transition holds. The clean economy will be the economy of the 21st century. We need leaders who can recognize and capitalize on this.
OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the NDP is caving to political pressure from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre when it comes to their stance on the consumer carbon price.
Trudeau says he believes Jagmeet Singh and the NDP care about the environment, but it’s “increasingly obvious” that they have “no idea” what to do about climate change.
On Thursday, Singh said the NDP is working on a plan that wouldn’t put the burden of fighting climate change on the backs of workers, but wouldn’t say if that plan would include a consumer carbon price.
Singh’s noncommittal position comes as the NDP tries to frame itself as a credible alternative to the Conservatives in the next federal election.
Poilievre responded to that by releasing a video, pointing out that the NDP has voted time and again in favour of the Liberals’ carbon price.
British Columbia Premier David Eby also changed his tune on Thursday, promising that a re-elected NDP government would scrap the long-standing carbon tax and shift the burden to “big polluters,” if the federal government dropped its requirements.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
Simon Jolin-Barrette, minister responsible for consumer protection, has tabled a bill to force merchants to calculate tips based on the price before tax.
That means on a restaurant bill of $100, suggested tips would be calculated based on $100, not on $114.98 after provincial and federal sales taxes are added.
The bill would also increase the rebate offered to consumers when the price of an item at the cash register is higher than the shelf price, to $15 from $10.
And it would force grocery stores offering a discounted price for several items to clearly list the unit price as well.
Businesses would also have to indicate whether taxes will be added to the price of food products.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
Quebec legislature member Youri Chassin has announced he’s leaving the Coalition Avenir Québec government to sit as an Independent.
He announced the decision shortly after writing an open letter criticizing Premier François Legault’s government for abandoning its principles of smaller government.
In the letter published in Le Journal de Montréal and Le Journal de Québec, Chassin accused the party of falling back on what he called the old formula of throwing money at problems instead of looking to do things differently.
Chassin says public services are more fragile than ever, despite rising spending that pushed the province to a record $11-billion deficit projected in the last budget.
He is the second CAQ member to leave the party in a little more than one week, after economy and energy minister Pierre Fitzgibbon announced Sept. 4 he would leave because he lost motivation to do his job.
Chassin says he has no intention of joining another party and will instead sit as an Independent until the end of his term.
He has represented the Saint-Jérôme riding since the CAQ rose to power in 2018, but has not served in cabinet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
