Liberals to get help from NDP to get net-zero bill to Senate faster
NDP environment critic Laurel Collins says her party will help the Liberals get the government's climate accountability bill to the Senate as soon as possible, even though the bill isn't as good as she thinks it could be.
The net-zero legislation sets legally binding greenhouse gas emission reduction targets over the next three decades, culminating in net zero emissions no later than 2050.
That would mean Canada captures any emissions still produced using nature or technology, a critical requirement to the world's attempt to slow global warming.
Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson introduced the bill in November and is now seeking help from the NDP and Bloc Quebecois to speed its passage through the House of Commons.
Wilkinson says the Conservatives are purposely trying to drag out the clause-by-clause review at the House environment committee, which allows MPs to vote on proposed amendments.
But if the bill doesn't get to the Senate this week, it likely won't have time to pass there before Parliament rises for the summer, and with an election a distinct possibility before it resumes in the fall, the bill would then die.
"Given Conservative procedural tactics, I am asking for your support to use the parliamentary tools available to ensure this bill advances to the Senate of Canada for consideration as soon as possible," Wilkinson said in a letter to NDP and Bloc leaders Tuesday.
The bill is 10 pages long with about four dozen clauses and Wilkinson notes 12 hours of review has only moved the bill half way through clause-by-clause review. Amendments have been proposed by all parties which is slowing the process, but Wilkinson says the Conservatives are purposely lengthening the discussion of each one to slow everything down.
"It is clear the Conservatives will do whatever it takes to prevent its consideration by the Senate of Canada before Parliament rises," he said.
Conservative environment critic Dan Albas said the Liberals are rushing the bill through so fast a majority of statements submitted to the committee by Canadians didn't arrive until after the deadline for submitting amendments.
"This disrespectful action by the Liberal government and the NDP shows that they care more about politics than listening to Canadians," Albas said.
He also said the "Liberal government and their NDP allies made a deal and are refusing to even debate or engage with any ideas from other opposition parties."
All amendments proposed by the Bloc and Green parties were defeated and the Bloc has no plans to help Wilkinson out.
"The Bloc does not intend in any way to hinder, slow down or interfere with the proper functioning of the committee currently studying Bill C-12," said party spokesman Julien Coulombe-Bonnafous in French.
Collins agrees the Conservatives are trying to run out the clock on the bill, but said the Liberals put themselves in the position by not introducing the promised bill until late November, and not bringing it up for meaningful debate until April.
"We are willing to use any of the parliamentary tools available to us," she said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
"It's so vitally important that Canada has climate accountability legislation."
Such bills in the United Kingdom and New Zealand helped them meet all the targets they have set. Canada, said Collins, has never met any of its climate targets, and its emissions have increased since the 2015 Paris climate accord.
Environment groups are also urging all parties to get the bill passed.
Andrew Gage, a staff lawyer at West Coast environmental law, said the bill would be stronger if it showed plans that actually achieved its emissions targets, and had an advisory body reporting to Parliament instead of the minister.
But he said the bill as it now stands, with the agreed amendments, is better than anything Canada has ever had.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2021.
IN DEPTH
Trudeau, key election players to testify at foreign interference hearings. What you need to know
The public hearings portion of the federal inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian elections and democratic institutions are picking back up this week. Here's what you need to know.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Who is supporting, opposing new online harms bill?
Now that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's sweeping online harms legislation is before Parliament, allowing key stakeholders, major platforms, and Canadians with direct personal experience with abuse to dig in and see what's being proposed, reaction is streaming in. CTVNews.ca has rounded up reaction, and here's how Bill C-63 is going over.
As Poilievre sides with Smith on trans restrictions, former Conservative candidate says he's 'playing with fire'
Siding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on her proposed restrictions on transgender youth, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed Wednesday that he is against trans and non-binary minors using puberty blockers.
TREND LINE What Nanos' tracking tells us about Canadians' mood, party preference heading into 2024
Heading into a new year, Canadians aren't feeling overly optimistic about the direction the country is heading, with the number of voters indicating negative views about the federal government's performance at the highest in a decade, national tracking from Nanos Research shows.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
opinion Don Martin: Pierre Poilievre's road to apparent victory will soon start to get rougher
Pierre Poilievre and his Conservatives appear to be on cruise control to a rendezvous with the leader's prime ministerial ambition, but in his latest column for CTVNews.ca, Don Martin questions whether the Conservative leader may be peaking too soon.
opinion Don Martin: The Trudeau lessons from Brian Mulroney's legacy start with walking away
Justin Trudeau should pay very close attention to the legacy treatment afforded former prime minister Brian Mulroney, who died on Thursday at age 84, writes columnist Don Martin.
opinion Don Martin: ArriveCan debacle may be even worse than we know from auditor's report
It's been 22 years since a former auditor general blasted the Chretien government after it 'broke just about every rule in the book' in handing out private sector contracts in the sponsorship scandal. In his column for CTVNews.ca, Don Martin says the book has been broken anew with everything that went on behind the scenes of the 'dreaded' ArriveCan app.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Baby boom amongst nurses leads to maternity ward closure in Listowel, Ont.
The emergency room at Listowel’s hospital is open today, but come summer, their obstetrics unit will be temporarily closing its delivery rooms.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Local Spotlight
Conservation officers seize 9-foot python from Chilliwack home
B.C. conservation officers recently seized a nine-foot-long Burmese python from a home in Chilliwack.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
Ontario auto-insurance changes could leave some vulnerable, says expert
The Ontario government is introducing changes to auto-insurance, but some experts say the move is ill-advised.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
A tiny critter who could: Elusive Newfoundland Marten makes improbable comeback
Newfoundland’s unique version of the Pine Marten has grown out of its threatened designation.
Ontario man loses $12K to deepfake scam involving Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
A Toronto man is out $12,000 after falling victim to a deepfake cryptocurrency scam that appeared to involve Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Record-setting pop tab collection for Ontario boy
It started small with a little pop tab collection to simply raise some money for charity and help someone — but it didn’t take long for word to get out that 10-year-old Jace Weber from Mildmay, Ont. was quickly building up a large supply of aluminum pop tabs.
'I was just like, holy cow!': Saskatoon dumpster divers reclaim wasted valuables
There’s a group of people in Saskatoon that proudly call themselves dumpster divers, and they’re turning the city’s trash into treasure.
Ontario to balance budget ahead of 2026 election, citing delay due to 'economic uncertainty'
Ontario is facing a larger than anticipated deficit but the Doug Ford government still plans to balance its books before the next provincial election.