The latest emissions projection data suggests Canada is on track to achieve its interim climate target and is getting closer to achieving its 2030 climate goal.
Environment and Climate Change Canada released new modelling on Thursday showing the country’s latest emissions pathway.
The projections are contingent on Canada following through with the full suite of policies announced in its 2030 emissions reduction plan, and the policies the federal government has announced since. It also includes measures that provincial and territorial governments are undertaking.
The modelling shows that Canada’s climate-altering emissions should decrease by mid-decade, bending the curve toward the interim 2026 climate target.
The latest projections show Canada is on track to surpass its previous 2030 target of a 30 per cent emissions cut below 2005 levels. That target was set by the government of former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper.
“In 2015, Canada was trending to exceed 2005 greenhouse gas emissions levels by nine per cent by 2030, but since then, many sectors of the economy have made real and measurable progress to lower their emissions,” says a news release from Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Canada introduces emissions cap for oil and gas industry
The federal government has revealed how it will set an upper limit on greenhouse gas emissions through a cap-and-trade system for the country’s biggest emitter, the oil and gas industry.
An energy think-tank applauded the government after the report was released.
“Since the current government assumed office, it has introduced several cornerstone emission-reduction measures, including carbon pricing, which is widely accepted as one of the most cost-effective ways to cut climate pollution,” says a press release from Clean Energy Canada.
On Thursday, Wilkinson criticized the climate records of Harper and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
“(Poilievre) was a member of Stephen Harper’s cabinet when Stephen did nothing to address the climate issue,” said Wilkinson. “I was in the clean technology sector. I was a CEO. There was despair across the country that Canada was so far out of the conversation on climate.”
Reached for comment, the Conservatives blasted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s climate and economic record. The Tories also spoke about their approach to tacking climate change.
“Common-sense Conservatives will use technology, not taxes, to lower emissions. We will remove the gatekeepers and green light green projects to bring home our industry and good jobs,” said Sebastian Skamski, director of media relations for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
“After eight years of Justin Trudeau, his inflationary taxes and deficits are sending millions of Canadians to food banks and forcing middle class families to choose between eating and heating this winter.
“All the while they punish Canadians with a carbon tax, he and his activist environment minister have not met a single one of their own emissions targets.”
CBC asked Conservatives to clarify the latter part of the statement since the only climate targets set by the Trudeau government are in 2026 and 2030. Whether Canada officially achieves those objectives are yet to be determined.
The Trudeau government did miss the 2020 climate target that Harper committed to under the 2009 Copenhagen Accord. Under the Conservatives Canada committed by 2020 to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 17 per cent below 2005 levels. Canada wasn’t far off: emissions fell by an estimated 16 per cent.
Feds still have work to do
Canada is still not on track to meet its enhanced 2030 targets, set under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The latest modelling forecasts the country will overshoot its goal of reducing emissions by 40 to 45 per cent below 2005 levels. The projections say it won’t reach that target until 2035.
That’s still an improvement on the previous year’s report, which showed Canada would not hit the target until after 2035.
Modelling shows Canada could reduce its emissions by 36 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 — a two per cent improvement on previous projections.
But there’s still work to do to close the gap.
Anna Kanduth, a director with the Canadian Climate Institute, said Ottawa needs to follow through on policies in its emissions reduction plan, like the zero-emission vehicle sales mandate and the oil and gas cap.
“That requires quick and effective implementation of all of those policies in the emissions reduction plan,” Kanduth.
It reports actual emissions annually through its national inventory reports — that reporting lags behind by about two years. The latest report shows Canada’s economy released 670 megatonnes in 2021.
According to the most recent projections, reported emissions for 2022 are expected to increase before falling this year.
In a news release, Environment Canada said it is working on more ways to reduce emissions. It said it’s updating existing methane regulations for oil and gas producers, finalizing the cap on oil and gas sector emissions and releasing and implementing the green buildings strategy.
Plans for the marine, rail and aviation sectors are also in development, the department said.
The Canadian Climate Institute, meanwhile, points out that Ottawa’s emissions projections also rely on provinces and territories following through with their policies.
“When we look at closing the gap … the onus should not just be on the federal government to close that gap,” Kanduth said.
VANCOUVER – Mayors and other leaders from several British Columbia communities say the provincial and federal governments need to take “immediate action” to tackle mental health and public safety issues that have reached crisis levels.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim says it’s become “abundantly clear” that mental health and addiction issues and public safety have caused crises that are “gripping” Vancouver, and he and other politicians, First Nations leaders and law enforcement officials are pleading for federal and provincial help.
In a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier David Eby, mayors say there are “three critical fronts” that require action including “mandatory care” for people with severe mental health and addiction issues.
The letter says senior governments also need to bring in “meaningful bail reform” for repeat offenders, and the federal government must improve policing at Metro Vancouver ports to stop illicit drugs from coming in and stolen vehicles from being exported.
Sim says the “current system” has failed British Columbians, and the number of people dealing with severe mental health and addiction issues due to lack of proper care has “reached a critical point.”
Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer says repeat violent offenders are too often released on bail due to a “revolving door of justice,” and a new approach is needed to deal with mentally ill people who “pose a serious and immediate danger to themselves and others.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2024
WINNIPEG – A backbencher with Manitoba’s NDP government has been removed from caucus over his link to convicted sex offender Peter Nygard.
Caucus chair Mike Moyes says it learned early Monday that a business partner of Mark Wasyliw is acting as Nygard’s criminal defence lawyer.
Moyes says Wasyliw was notified of the decision.
“Wasyliw’s failure to demonstrate good judgment does not align with our caucus principles of mutual respect and trust,” Moyes said in a statement.
“As such MLA Wasyliw can no longer continue his role in our caucus.”
Nygard, who founded a fashion empire in Winnipeg, was sentenced earlier this month to 11 years in prison for sexually assaulting four women at his company’s headquarters in Toronto.
The 83-year-old continues to face charges in Manitoba, Quebec and the United States.
Moyes declined to say whether Wasyliw would be sitting as an Independent.
The legislature member for Fort Garry was first elected in 2019. Before the NDP formed government in 2023, Wasyliw served as the party’s finance critic.
He previously came under fire from the Opposition Progressive Conservatives for continuing to work as a lawyer while serving in the legislature.
At the time, Wasyliw told the Winnipeg Free Press that he was disappointed he wasn’t named to cabinet and planned to continue working as a defence lawyer.
Premier Wab Kinew objected to Wasyliw’s decision, saying elected officials should focus on serving the public.
There were possible signs of tension between Wasyliw and Kinew last fall. Wasyliw didn’t shake hands with the new premier after being sworn into office. Other caucus members shook Kinew’s hand, hugged or offered a fist bump.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2024.
FREDERICTON – New Brunswick’s finance minister says the province recorded a surplus of $500.8 million for the fiscal year that ended in March.
Ernie Steeves says the amount — more than 10 times higher than the province’s original $40.3-million budget projection for the 2023-24 fiscal year — was largely the result of a strong economy and population growth.
The report of a big surplus comes as the province prepares for an election campaign, which will officially start on Thursday and end with a vote on Oct. 21.
Steeves says growth of the surplus was fed by revenue from the Harmonized Sales Tax and federal money, especially for health-care funding.
Progressive Conservative Premier Blaine Higgs has promised to reduce the HST by two percentage points to 13 per cent if the party is elected to govern next month.
Meanwhile, the province’s net debt, according to the audited consolidated financial statements, has dropped from $12.3 billion in 2022-23 to $11.8 billion in the most recent fiscal year.
Liberal critic René Legacy says having a stronger balance sheet does not eliminate issues in health care, housing and education.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2024.
