Alberta Premier Rachel Notley’s climate change plan appeared to be the star of the show as the premiers and territorial leaders jointly met with the prime minister for the first time in nearly seven years.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told an audience in Ottawa, in between an afternoon gathering and a working dinner, that world leaders he met on recent overseas trips were pressing him on what Canada is doing to fight climate change ahead of the COP 21 Paris climate change conference next week.
“We had a strong signal yesterday about how Canadians right across the country are looking to do their part,” Trudeau said, before commending Notley for what he called “a strong positive step in the right direction.”
Notley then gave a brief summary of the plan she revealed Sunday, which includes a phased-in $30/tonne carbon tax, a hard cap on oil sands emissions starting in 2017, and the ending of coal powered electricity generation by 2030.
“Canada is one of the world’s principal energy producers,” Notley told the crowd. “Our goal should be to become one of the world’s most progressive and forward-looking energy producers.”
British Columbia Premier Christy Clark later told reporters she was “really pleased” with Alberta’s choice of a wide-ranging carbon tax regime similar to the one B.C. implemented in 2008.
“I think Alberta following British Columbia on that really helps us make the case that Canadians do care about climate change,” Clark said, adding that B.C. is proof it can be achieved while keeping the economy growing.
Clark said Canada has a “story to tell” about success fighting climate change and the COP 21 summit is “a chance to reset the brand.”
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne echoed Clark, telling reporters Alberta’s announcement was “extremely important” and that it helps Canada “go now to Paris … with a very strong story to tell.”
“Even with all of the work that Ontario and Quebec and British Columbia had done, there was always a question of where Alberta was going to fit into that story,” said Wynne.
Ontario and Quebec have committed to a cap-and-trade plan to reduce emissions. Ontario also managed to fully eliminate coal powered electricity generation by 2014, although not without complaints about growing electricity bills.
As expected, Wynne said that the premiers and Trudeau did not agree to a national target on climate change emissions reductions at their afternoon meeting.
Trudeau has promised to meet with the first ministers again within 90 days of Paris to hammer out the details.
Wynne also said there were more questions than answers about the federal government’s Syrian refugees resettlement plan -- the other main topic on the agenda -- but that she looked forward to hearing more on Tuesday.
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard, meanwhile, also said that the Paris meeting presents an opportunity to “rebrand” Canada on “climate change and energy."
"Not only are we an important producer of oil,” he said, “but we're also the third largest producer of hydro-electricity in the world."
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said his province needs to do a better job fighting climate change, but be stressed the need for a delicate balance with economic needs.
“As we are meeting there are literally tens of thousands of Canadians who have been laid off in their jobs in this sector,” Wall said at a final press conference late Monday. “So as we prepare for Paris and to present a constructive and national front to the world, we need to be mindful of that fact. We need to work hard to ensure we’re doing no further harm to an industry that’s facing great difficultly. I don’t think those things are mutually exclusive.”
Notley later told CTV Power Play that her carbon tax plan takes such economic concerns into account.
“Every cent,” she said, “will be recycled back into the economy, either through rebates to low and middle income consumers or through a variety of different programs.”
“I’ll be frank,” she said. “We considered the possibility of having a piece of it go against the fiscal challenges we face in Alberta … and we decided that no, while the economy is in the situation it is now, every cent goes back in.”
“I think, if anything, it will actually generate economic activity,” she added.
Notley said the plan will “flatten” the growth in emissions from Alberta and eventually start to reduce them, and she hopes the world takes notice.
“Whether the price (of oil) recovers in two years or five years,” she added, “I think in the long-term the world is going to continue to need a responsibly developed oil and gas resource.”
Mulcair calls for ‘hard target’
Going into the Paris talks, the Liberal government has said it will stick with the target proposed by Stephen Harper's previous Conservative government of a 30 per cent reduction below 2005 levels by 2030.
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair told reporters Tuesday that without “hard targets,” including “legislation that sets down the obligation to report,” then Canada will have “failed.”
“It’s one thing to say you want the provinces to be partners, which is great,” Mulcair said.
“But it’s Canada that’s going to be signing that deal, and it’s Canada that has the concrete obligation to provide a reduction in greenhouse gases,” he added.
“All of the rest, if you’ll pardon me the expression, is just hot air.”
With files from The Canadian Press
