OTTAWA — Canada has had at least 11 different climate plans and nine emissions targets since 1988. Here’s a snapshot of some of them.
1988: Canada hosts a conference in Toronto called Changing Atmosphere: Implications for Global Security, where governments and NGOs agree that human behaviour is affecting the atmosphere. Prime Minister Brian Mulroney gives the opening address, and by the end of the event, parties agree to strive to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 20 percent below 1988 levels by 2005.
1990: The Mulroney government releases the Green Plan, which includes $175 million for about two dozen new policies on greenhouse gas emissions, including investments in energy efficiency, alternative energy and tree planting. It sets a goal to “stabilize” emissions at 1990 levels by 2000.
1992: Canada signs the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Rio de Janeiro, which sets up the next three decades of global conferences to address greenhouse gas emissions.
1993: In the federal election, Liberal Leader Jean Chrétien promises to cut emissions to 80 percent of what they were in 1988 by 2005, the same target Mulroney agreed to in 1988.
1995: Chretien’s government introduces the National Action Program on Climate Change, promising to cut 66 million tonnes of emissions from current levels in 15 years. The plan includes more than 400 possible projects or programs, such as retrofitting federal buildings, updating the national building code to identify thermal efficiencies and convincing industry to voluntarily submit climate plans.
1997: Canada agrees to the Kyoto Protocol, an extension of the UN climate framework. It sets a new target to cut emissions to six per cent below 1990 levels by 2012.
1998: The federal government introduces its new Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change to work toward its Kyoto target, with a $500-million investment over five years. It includes goals to improve vehicle fuel efficiency, investments in renewable energy and a promise to look further at using carbon capture and storage technology in the oil and gas sector.
2002: Climate Change Plan for Canada, another pathway toward the Kyoto target, talks about emissions credits trading, increased use of ethanol and biodiesel, investments in public transit and aiming to retrofit one-fifth of commercial and institutional buildings by 2010.
2005: Project Green: A Plan for Honouring our Kyoto Commitment followed the 2005 federal budget, which included more than $3 billion in climate investments, including funds to encourage wind power and other renewable energy options and tax incentives for efficient energy generation. The latest plan encourages the development of a domestic emissions credit trading system, and promises to regulate emissions from certain industries.
2007: Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a year after saying Canada wouldn’t be able to meet the Kyoto target, sets a new goal to cut emissions to 20 per cent below 2006 levels by 2020. It’s the first to base its action mostly on cutting emissions intensity — the amount of greenhouse gas produced per unit of production, such as per barrel of oil, or tonne of steel.
2009: Canada signs the Copenhagen Accord, a new global climate plan under which Canada promises to cut emissions 17 per cent below 2005 levels by 2020.
2011: Canada formally withdraws from the Kyoto Protocol.
2015: Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq submits a new national emissions target ahead of a major UN climate conference in Paris. The new target, 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, comes with promises to cut methane emissions in the oil and gas sector, and regulations for natural gas power plants and fertilizer production.
In November, just weeks after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals win the election and take office, Canada signs the Paris agreement at that UN conference, using the same Conservative targets.
2016: Trudeau surprises and angers some premiers with a sudden plan to impose a minimum price on pollution on provinces without their own similar plan. Shortly after, most provinces sign on the Pan-Canadian Framework for Clean Growth and Climate Change, which shows a path of policies to get Canada much of the way to the Paris target. They include the carbon price, as well as better building codes, eliminating coal power and a clean fuel standard to reduce emissions generated by burning fuels.
2020: Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson introduces a “strengthened” climate plan aiming to introduce more measures to try and meet the original 2030 target and start working toward net-zero emissions by 2050. A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy promises to keep increasing the carbon price until it reaches $170 a tonne in 2030, and to invest in clean technology and a national clean electricity grid.
2021: Canada submits updated emissions targets to the UN, now aiming for 40 to 45 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. It also passes the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, which enshrines the targets into law for the first time, and requires regular reporting and reviews of progress.
2022: Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault introduces the Emissions Reduction Plan, showing the path to getting to the new 2030 targets.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 29, 2022.
The Canadian Press
PORT ALBERNI, B.C. – RCMP say the body of a second person has been found inside their vehicle after a road washed away amid pouring rain on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Police say two vehicles went into the Sarita River when Bamfield Road washed out on Saturday as an atmospheric river hammered southern B.C.
The body of the other driver was found Sunday.
More coming.
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The B.C. Greens say Sonia Furstenau will be staying on as party leader, despite losing her seat in the legislature in Saturday’s provincial election.
The party says in a statement that its two newly elected MLAs, Jeremy Valeriote and Rob Botterell, support Furstenau’s leadership as they “navigate the prospect of having the balance of power in the legislature.”
Neither the NDP led by Premier David Eby nor the B.C. Conservatives led by John Rustad secured a majority in the election, with two recounts set to take place from Oct. 26 to 28.
Eby says in a news conference that while the election outcome is uncertain, it’s “very likely” that the NDP would need the support of others to pass legislation.
He says he reached out to Furstenau on election night to congratulate her on the Greens’ showing.
But he says the Green party has told the NDP they are “not ready yet” for a conversation about a minority government deal.
The Conservatives went from taking less than two per cent of the vote in 2020 to being elected or leading in 45 ridings, two short of a majority and only one behind the NDP.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio is making a difference, 4,175 kilometres away from home.
The 32-year-old Canadian international midfielder, whose parents hail from Colombia, has been working with the Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization, a charity whose goal is to help disadvantaged youth in the South American country.
Osorio has worked behind the scenes, with no fanfare.
Until now, with his benevolence resulting in becoming Toronto FC’s nominee for the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, which honours an MLS player “who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community” during the 2024 season.”
Other nominees include Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.
The winner will be announced in late November.
The Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization (CCCO) is run entirely by volunteers like Monica Figueredo and Claudia Soler. Founded in 1991, it received charitable status in 2005.
The charity currently has four projects on the go: two in Medellin and one each in Armenia and Barranquilla.
They include a school, a home for young girls whose parents are addicted to drugs, after-school and weekend programs for children in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, and nutrition and education help for underprivileged youth.
The organization heard about Osorio and was put in contact with him via an intermediary, which led to a lunch meeting. Osorio did his due diligence and soon got back to the charity with his decision.
“It was something that I wanted to be a part of right away,” said Osorio, whose lone regret is that he didn’t get involved sooner.
“I’m fortunate now that to help more now that I could have back then,” he added. “The timing actually worked out for everybody. For the last three years I have donated to their cause and we’ve built a couple of (football) fields in different cities over there in the schools.”
His father visited one of the sites in Armenia close to his hometown.
“He said it was amazing, the kids, how grateful they are to be able to play on any pitch, really,” said Osorio. “But to be playing on a new pitch, they’re just so grateful and so humble.
“It really makes it worth it being part of this organization.”
The collaboration has also made Osorio take stock.
“We’re very fortunate here in Canada, I think, for the most part. Kids get to go to school and have a roof over their head and things like that. In Colombia, it’s not really the same case. My father and his family grew up in tough conditions, so giving back is like giving back to my father.”
Osorio’s help has been a godsend to the charity.
“We were so surprised with how willing he was,” said Soler.
The TFC skipper has helped pay for a football field in Armenia as well as an ambitious sports complex under construction in Barranquilla.
“It’s been great for them,” Figueredo said of the pitch in Armenia. “Because when they go to school, now they have a proper place to train.”
Osorio has also sent videos encouraging the kids to stay active — as well as shipping soccer balls and signed jerseys their way.
“They know more about Jonathan than the other players in Colombia,” Figueredo said. “That’s the funny part. Even though he’s far away, they’ve connected with him.”
“They feel that they have a future, that they can do more,” she added. “Seeing that was really, really great.”
The kids also followed Osorio through the 2022 World Cup and this summer’s Copa America.
Back home, Osorio has also attended the charity’s annual golf tournament, helping raise funds.
A Toronto native, he has long donated four tickets for every TFC home game to the Hospital for Sick Children.
Vancouver’s Berhalter was nominated for his involvement in the Whitecaps’ partnership with B.C. Children’s Hospital while Montreal’s Sirois was chosen for his work with the Montreal Impact Foundation.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
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