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441-00196 (Environment)

Paper petition

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament Assembled

We, the undersigned Citizens of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:

WHEREAS:

On June 17, 2019, the Canadian House of Commons passed a motion declaring a national climate emergency;

Canada ranks in the top 10 of the world's historic greenhouse gas emitters as well as on a per capita basis;

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Sixth Working report (August 9, 2021) was declared by the UN Secretary-General as 'Code Red For Humanity', and the IPCC has warned we have less than a decade to cut greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 50% to have a 50-50 chance of keeping global warming below 1.5°C;

The World Health Organization has made a desperate plea to world leaders ahead of COP 26 to phase out fossil fuels to help save millions of lives around the globe; and

The consequences of climate change are already affecting Canadians, either directly through climate disasters such as the recent BC heat dome and Western wildfires, or indirectly through climate-related risks to health, livelihoods, food security, water supply, human security and economic growth.

Therefore, your petitioners request that all parties in Parliament urgently work together within the first 100 days of the new session to:

Commit to Canada's fair share of cutting at least 60 per cent of domestic emissions from 2005 levels by 2030;

Establish a concrete plan to end fossil fuel subsidies and stop all new fossil fuel expansions; and

Restart the Just Transition consultation and pass this legislation as soon as possible.

Response by the Minister of Natural Resources

Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, P.C., M.P.

The Government of Canada is working with partners across the country to build a clean economy that supports a just transition and provides sustainable jobs to people and communities in every province and territory.  This conversation cannot be held in isolation and there is no one-size-fits-all solution for all regions and sectors. It requires the participation, know-how, and innovative ideas of all Canadians and partners.

 

The Government of Canada remains committed to moving forward with legislation and comprehensive action to support workers and communities as we transition to a low-carbon economy.  In July 2021, Natural Resources Canada launched public consultations to develop Just Transition legislation.  Public consultations are back underway with a broad range of stakeholders including labour organizations, industry, academia, non-governmental organizations, youth, and experts in skills, training, and diversity and inclusion. These virtual consultations are in addition to meetings with provinces, territories and Indigenous organizations. A “what we heard” report will follow and will guide the proposed legislation.

Response by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable STEVEN GUILBEAULT

Over the past six years, the Government of Canada has demonstrated its leadership on climate change and clean growth, at home and abroad. Canada invested more than $100 billion to address climate change since 2015.

Canada established two significant climate plans: the 2016 Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change and the 2020 strengthened climate plan entitled A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy with over 60 new federal measures. The strengthened climate plan is informed by more than four years of engagement with Indigenous peoples through distinction-based, senior bilateral tables on clean growth and climate change. Thanks to these measures, along with strengthened alignment with the United States, Canada is on a path to achieving significant emissions reduction by 2030.

In July, Canada adopted an enhanced 2030 emissions reduction target of 40-45% below 2005 levels. Under the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, Canada is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, with a transparent and legally-binding process to guide implementation.

To further illustrate our commitment, at the Conference of the Parties (COP26) Canada announced new measure

  • A commitment to cap Canada’s oil and gas emissions at the pace and scale needed to achieve net-zero by 2050;
  • Working with provinces, territories, industry, and other stakeholders so that Canada’s electricity grid achieves net-zero emissions by 2035;
  • Working toward ending exports of thermal coal by no later than 2030; and,
  • Signing onto the Global Methane Pledge, as well as pledging to reduce oil and gas methane emissions by at least 75% below 2012 levels by 2030.

Canada has also committed to phase out or rationalize inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. It has already taken actions to phase out or rationalize eight tax preferences supporting the fossil fuel sector. Addressing inefficient fossil fuel subsidies supports Canada’s efforts to take action on climate change and transition to a low-carbon economy.

 

                                   

Response by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Chrystia Freeland

In 2009, Canada and other G20 members committed to “rationalize and phase out over the medium term inefficient fossil fuel subsidies while providing targeted support for the poorest”. At the 2016 North American Leaders’ Summit, Canada, the United States, and Mexico reaffirmed this commitment by agreeing to phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies by 2025. Most recently, the Government advanced this commitment from 2025 to 2023.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change are working together to identify and phase out or rationalize inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. Canada has already taken significant actions to phase out or rationalize eight tax measures providing preferential tax treatment to the fossil fuel sector.

In June 2018, Canada committed to undergo a peer review of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies under the G20 process. Canada’s peer review reports will be made public at the end of the process. Peer reviews of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies can increase transparency, encourage international dialogue, and help develop best practices while moving toward a low-carbon economy.

Presented to the House of Commons
Michael Chong (Wellington—Halton Hills)
February 16, 2022 (Petition No. 441-00196)
Government response tabled
April 1, 2022
Photo - Michael Chong
Wellington—Halton Hills
Conservative Caucus
Ontario

Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.