This is an archived version of the page comparing the 2019 election platforms for Canadian federal political parties. For up-to-date information on accountability on environmental pledges for the Liberal government, see the homepage.
Yes
No
Maybe
Not addressed
CLIMATE CHANGE
1. Acknowledge climate change is real
Since the mid 20th century the Earth has been experiencing a change in the global climate. Climate change is not only global warming, but also sea level rise, extreme weather events, and many other impacts.
2. Acknowledge climate change is caused by humans
While the Earth’s climate has changed significantly in the past, the current warming trend is proceeding at an unprecedented rate that can be largely attributed to human activities, namely the burning of fossil fuels.
3. Acknowledge we need to do something about climate change/ reduce our carbon emissions
Canada must act to reduce carbon emissions in order to secure a safe and healthy environment for current and future generations.
OIL & GAS
4. Plans to phase out oil and gas production
Climate change is largely caused by the burning of fossil fuels. A step to slow climate change is to phase out the production of oil and gas in Canada.
5. Plans to phase out oil and gas consumption
Climate change is largely caused by the burning of fossil fuels. Canada making the switch to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar will contribute towards limiting climate change.
6. Against future pipelines
The fossil fuel industry is the largest emitter of carbon emissions. Scientists have stated it is time to stop investing in oil and transition to sustainable energy sources.
7. Intends to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies
Subsidies are financial benefits that the government gives to a specific group, such as tax deductions for the fossil fuel industry. Canada has made an international commitment to phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies by 2025.
PARIS AGREEMENT
8. Intend to reach Paris Agreement target and keep warming below 2 degrees
In 2015, Canada signed the Paris Agreement and committed to limiting the global temperature increase to below 2 degrees Celsius.
9. Plan will keep warming below 2 degrees
These results are based on the work of Dr. Mark Jaccard, at Simon Fraser University. He modelled the climate change policies of the Conservatives to forecast warming trends. Green Party and NDP plans to cut carbon emissions are viewed as sufficient to reach this goal; however, no modelling has been performed to date so this hasn't been tested. Similarly, no modelling has been conducted on the new Liberal plan.
10. Intend to keep warming below 1.5 degrees
In 2015, Canada signed the Paris Agreement and committed to limiting global temperature increase to below 2 degrees Celsius. However, the global community hopes to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees.
11. Plan will keep warming below 1.5 degrees
These results are based on the work of Dr. Mark Jaccard, at Simon Fraser University. He modelled the climate change policies of the Conservatives to forecast warming trends. Green Party and NDP plans to cut carbon emissions are viewed as sufficient to reach this goal; however, no modelling has been performed to date so this hasn't been tested. Similarly, no modelling has been conducted on the new Liberal plan.
CLIMATE CHANGE GOVERNANCE
12. In favour of an environmental bill of rights
More than 110 Countries have already passed an environmental bill of rights, such as New Zealand and Argentina. If passed, a Canadian Bill of Environmental Rights would recognize that Canadians have the right to a healthy environment. Additionally, it would make the protection of a healthy environment a responsibility of government.
13. Committed to legislating climate targets
Putting climate targets into law would strengthen implementation and monitoring
14. Committed to establishing an expert body to oversee Canada's climate plan
An expert body would ensure that Canada’s climate targets and climate plan were in line with climate change science.
15. Intends to collaborate with indigenous people on climate change policy
Collaborating with indigenous communities in a meaningful way is needed to achieve a sustainable future while working towards reconciliation.
CARBON PRICING
16. Committed to maintaining federal carbon pricing in provinces and territories that have not put in place their own carbon pricing system
In 2019, Canada established a carbon pricing system. Provinces and territories had the option of creating their own carbon pricing system with a set of federal guidelines, or an alternative to the federal pricing system.
17. Committed to increasing the carbon price by at least $10 a year
In order for the carbon pricing system to be effective, economists have determined that the price on carbon must increase by $10 every year.
TRANSPORTATION
TRANSPORTATION
18. Committed to introducing regulations that require vehicle manufacturers to sell a percentage of Zero Emission Vehicles in Canada
Transportation is the second largest source of carbon emissions in Canada. Zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) can help reduce carbon emissions in Canada. Transport Canada considers battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to be ZEVs.
19. Committed to making Zero Emission Vehicles more affordable in Canada
Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) have the potential to significantly reduce transportation carbon emissions in Canada. ZEVs could be made more affordable to Canadians by implementing incentives, such as waiving the federal sales tax on ZEVs.
INFRASTRUCTURE
20. Committed to implementing a pan-Canadian Renovation and Retrofit Strategy for energy retrofits in existing buildings
Heating and cooling buildings is a large source of carbon emissions. By retrofitting existing buildings to be more energy efficient carbon emissions in Canada can be significantly reduced.
21. Committed to working with provinces and territories to ensure all new buildings are Net Zero Energy Ready by 2030
Heating and cooling buildings is a large source of carbon emissions. Ensuring that all new buildings in Canada are Net Zero Energy would be a significant step in reducing carbon emissions.
BIODIVERSITY
22. Mentions "biodiversity" in platform
Biodiversity, the diversity of species and ecosystems, is the engine that delivers the ecosystem goods and services vital for sustaining human life. These ecosystem goods and services include pollination, food, and clean air. We are in the midst of a biodiversity loss crisis as Earth’s ecosystems are being threatened by increasing human impacts, including habitat destruction, overexploitation, pollution and climate change.
PROTECTED AREAS
23. Intend to protect 17% of land by 2020
In 2010, under the Convention of Biological Diversity, Canada committed to protecting 17% of its land by 2020.
24. Intend to protect 10% of ocean by 2020
In 2010, under the Convention of Biological Diversity, Canada committed to protecting 10% of its ocean by 2020.
25. Intend to protect 30% of land by 2030
Protecting 17% of Canadian land is an important goal. However, the global scientific community has called for 30% to be protected by 2030.
26. Intend to protect 30% of ocean by 2030
Protecting 10% of the Canadian ocean is an important goal. However, the global scientific community has called for 30% to be protected by 2030.
27. Committed to creating protected areas with federal, provincial/territorial and Indigenous participation
Co-management of protected areas with indigenous communities is a meaningful way to conserve Canada’s nature while working towards reconciliation.
28. Committed to ensuring that Canada's federal protected areas are designed and managed according to international conservation standards
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has developed a set of standards for protected area designation and management. These standards were created to aid governments in creating successful protected areas.
SPECIES AT RISK
29. Committed to implementing recovery strategies for species identified by 2019 as "at risk"
Under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), the federal government has the power to implement recovery strategies for species that have been identified as “at risk” of extinction within Canada.
30. Committed to promoting using all tools available under SARA to protect species facing imminent threats
The Species at Risk Act (SARA) has a variety of tools that can be used to protect species facing imminent threats, such as making an emergency order to protect a species’ habitat and prohibiting activities that may be damaging critical habitat.
31. Committed to ecosystem-based rebuilding of marine fish populations
The updated Fisheries Act, published in 2018, called for ecosystem-based rebuilding efforts for marine fish populations.
32. Committed to putting in place a moratorium on oil and gas exploration and development in the Gulf of St-Lawrence ecosystem
The Gulf of St. Lawrence is an important ecosystem for fisheries, tourism and indigenous communities. A moratorium on oil and gas development would help protect the ecosystem and these services.
PLASTIC
33. Intends to ban single-use plastic
Single use plastic waste fills Canadian landfills or ends up as litter in parks and the ocean. Among other deleterious effects, single use plastic can result in the death of marine animals such as sea turtles and whales.