Alberta and Ontario environment ministers call for repeal of Trudeau era climate policies in letter
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Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz and Ontario Environment Minister Todd McCarthy said in a letter to federal counterpart Julie Dabrusin that the new, Mark Carney-led Liberal government will need to ditch Justin Trudeau's net-zero agenda if it hopes to meet its promise to make Canada an energy superpower.
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'We are hopeful that (the Carney government) will move away from policies and legislation that undermine competitiveness, delay project development, and disproportionately harm certain (regions) without any quantifiable benefit to the natural environment,' read the letter.
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'Canada is poised to become an economic superpower, but achieving that potential depends on strong, constitutionally grounded provincial authority over resource development and environmental management.'
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Schulz shared a copy of the letter on social media on Wednesday, just as a two-day meeting between federal, provincial and territorial environment ministers kicked off in Yellowknife.
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The letter calls for a repeal of the federal Impact Assessment Act, as well as a full repeal of the legislation authorizing the consumer carbon tax. Carney set the tax to zero shortly after becoming prime minister in March.
The recently passed Bill C-5 allows projects deemed by Ottawa to be in the national interest to bypass some parts of the federal impact assessment process.
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Alberta has repeatedly called for this process to be either massively streamlined or eliminated altogether.
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The letter also calls for Ottawa to cede more power to the provinces in the areas of clean electricity, carbon reduction and ecological protection.
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'Provinces have proven to be the best stewards of such decisions, as leaders of electrification, industrial innovation, public transit and other low-carbon initiatives,' write Schulz and McCarthy.
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The two environment ministers also called for the reversal of the incoming federal emissions cap and clean electricity regulations.
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CBC
20 minutes ago
- CBC
Meet the U.S. climate resistance
Hello, Earthlings! This is our weekly newsletter on all things environmental, where we highlight trends and solutions that are moving us to a more sustainable world. Keep up with the latest news on our Climate and Environment page. Meet the U.S. climate resistance U.S. climate advocates have faced a dizzying number of environmental policy rollbacks and funding cuts in the almost six months since Donald Trump took office. Now, activists, academics and lobbyists across American society are gearing up to once again galvanize public opinion in favour of climate action, ahead of the U.S. midterm elections in 2026. The academic resistance Brandon Jones is the president of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) who worked as a federal scientist in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for 12 years. Jones says he was initially overwhelmed by the "surreal" barrage of changes. But now, Jones says, his organization is finding ways to push back. "You get to a point where yes, you are going to have emotions about the decisions, but you also need to start thinking clearly about how to stand up against what you know is not right," he said. In April, the U.S. president dismissed hundreds of scientists working to compile the country's flagship report on global warming and its impacts. The National Climate Assessment, which is released every four years, informs everything from agricultural policy that impacts food security to disaster mitigation that saves lives. These dismissals prompted the AGU to create a special collection of journals that would house all the important climate research that was suddenly left homeless. Jones says it's important for U.S. scientists today to find new ways to keep climate science alive in the face of federal funding cuts and shifting political priorities. Equally, he says, it's important to continue to get climate data out to decision makers and the general public, and he says many researchers in his circle feel the same. "They are so impassioned about continuing their work and doing the right thing in the face of what they see as an infringement on science … that they're just ready to do it with no pay. It's about ethics and morality now and humanity." The street-level resistance Youth organizations are putting their energy into more visible forms of resistance, like street protests and direct action. One example is the Sunrise Movement. Executive Director Aru Shiney-Ajay says they are currently forming a "youth army to combat the climate crisis." Sunrise's strategy is to carry out social media campaigns and hold rallies to draw attention to Donald Trump's support of fossil fuel industries ahead of the midterms. "Environment is the issue where Trump is least trusted," she said. 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"I think it makes total common sense, considering the state of the Republican Party and climate protection, to focus on pocketbook issues," he said. Dominque Browning, co-founder of the advocacy group Moms Clean Air Force, says her organization plans to lobby in favour of The Endangerment Finding. That's a 2009 decision by the EPA that acknowledges the public health dangers of greenhouse gas emissions and its responsibility to protect Americans from climate change. The current head of the EPA says he will consider reversing the finding altogether. Browning says she thinks about her grandson's future when preparing to push back against a reversal of the finding, and that parents across the U.S. are engaging with lawmakers to pressure the government to uphold the principles of the Endangerment Finding. "We will continue to fight on all fronts. In fact, we find that our work actually helps give us hope and solace, because at least we're trying to do something." Check out our podcast and radio show. In one of our newest episodes: If Canada wants to be net-zero by 2050, more than a million small businesses will have to make the green transition. And while some intrepid business owners are already trying their best to navigate a more eco-friendly path, others say it's a big ask, especially when many are already struggling to balance the needs of price-wary shoppers with a thin bottom line. We'll dive into their journey, and learn more about the supports that could change the game. What On Earth drops new podcast episodes every Wednesday and Saturday. You can find them on your favourite podcast app or on demand at CBC Listen. The radio show airs Sundays at 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m. in Newfoundland and Labrador. Reader Feedback We got another response to our request for photos of your native plant gardens! Amanda Blain wrote: "I have naturalized over five acres into trees, wetlands and native flowers and grasses BUT this is what I call my 'Landscaped Area.' I chose this to show even on a small scale you can make an impact. Instead of planting non-native plants as most landscapers do, I decided to take it into my own hands. I am located in Chatham-Kent, [Ont.,] where tree cover and natural areas are less than five per cent of the total land area. Here I planted: black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), smooth oxeye or false sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides), wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis), purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolate) amongst others. I truly believe there is no reason to plant non-native flowers since there are so many beautiful native options." 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Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Taxes, negotiations and dealing with a bully
Opinion In the current perilous and mercurial moment, it was undoubtedly the right thing to do. But the practical reality of the matter doesn't make it any less viscerally unpleasant. The decision last Sunday by Prime Minister Mark Carney to rescind the digital services tax might be, as he attempted to ensure Canadians, a small element of a larger negotiating strategy, but for those who have grown sick and tired of the petulant tirades and deplorable tactics of U.S. President Donald Trump, it felt more like backing down in the face of a bully's threats. The DST, which was introduced by the then-Trudeau-led Liberals in 2020 and was set to take effect June 30, would have imposed a three per cent tax on tech giants with Canadian revenues in excess of $20 million per year. Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press Prime Minister Mark Carney The primary targets, of course, were U.S.-based firms such as Meta (Facebook, Instagram), Amazon, Google, X Corp. (formerly Twitter) and others, which have siphoned off billions in revenue from this country's retail, commercial and media sectors without contributing anything to the Canadian economy. Other nations, including France, the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy, have imposed their own versions of a DST, and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) continues its long and often-stalled effort to create an international framework for regulating and taxing global tech companies. But Trump, who since being re-elected has fabricated numerous rationales for imposing tariffs and other penalties on Canada, last week described the DST as 'a direct and blatant attack' on the U.S. and declared he would cease all trade negotiations until Canada 'straighten(s) out their act.' Given that Carney has invested considerable time and political capital into repairing Canada-U.S. relations that had turned toxic largely because of the U.S. president's deep dislike for former prime minister Justin Trudeau, it isn't surprising that the decision was made to shelve the DST, at least temporarily. Carney's priority is to restart talks aimed at reaching a trade deal that addresses the punitive tariffs that have been capriciously applied since Trump's return to the White House. Weekday Mornings A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day. 'It's part of a bigger negotiation,' Carney said of the DST withdrawal. 'It's something that we expected in the broader sense that would be part of a final deal.' Trade talks between Canada and the U.S. resumed Monday, with the previously agreed-upon deadline of July 21 still being the target for reaching an agreement. Whether the last-minute cancellation of the digital tax truly was a tactical move or simply amounts to an act of sheepish acquiescence, it's difficult for Canadians to view it as anything but loathsome. We're all taught, from childhood, that we should never give in to a bully, because doing so will only embolden the tormentor to attack again, demand more and extract as much as can be gained for as long as the bullying tactics continue to work. In addition to the direct costs of seeking to appease, there's also an emotional toll that comes with letting a bully get away with it, a sickening feeling deep in the pit of one's stomach at the idea the bad guys are winning, yet again, and that maybe the arc of history does not — as former president Barack Obama and others have professed — bend toward justice. For now, all we have is our trust that Carney really is playing a long game, and that Canadians will be rewarded for their patience in this moment of profound frustration. Giving in to a bully is deeply unpleasant; now, it's up to the PM to prove to us all it was worth it.
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Residents, Ont. NDP leader rally against Dresden landfill
Residents continue to fight against a proposed Dresden landfill. CTV Windsor's Robert Lothian has an update. A community effort to keep a landfill out of Dresden was met with support on Thursday by the leader of the Ontario NDP. Marit Stiles backed the cause at a rally against the landfill and the provincial government's passing of Bill 5. 'This is a prime example of a government and a premier making another promise and commitment and breaking it,' Stiles told those at the rally in Dresden. Led by Stiles, a crowd of more than 100 people chanted 'kill Bill 5,' which paved the way for a long-dormant landfill to be revived without the need for an Environmental Assessment. 070325 Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles met with Dresden residents and stakeholders against the revival of the dump site. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor) The Ford Government pushed through the 'Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act,' at the tail end of the spring sitting. On Thursday, representatives from Walpole Island First Nation, the Kent Federation of Agriculture and PSAC spoke openly against the legislation. 'You are going about this in bad faith, and you are not proving to us that you are a trusted proponent,' said Leela Thomas, Chief of Walpole Island First Nation. York1 Environmental Solutions is seeking to revive an old landfill site on Irish School Road on the northern tip of Dresden, supposedly for a construction and demolition materials recycling facility. Rhonda Jubenville, the area representative for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent said they have had little correspondence with York1. 'They haven't applied for any zoning applications or anything, so we've heard zero, nil, nothing,' Jubenville said. In recent weeks, construction equipment was dropped off at the landfill site. Chatham-Kent has instructed by-law officers to monitor the site for any potential infractions. 070325 Chatham-Kent residents Wendy Lewis, left, and Dawn Ostler attended a rally in Dresden against a proposed landfill. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor) 'I do worry for the people of Dresden and the surrounding area, along with the impact of the land and farms, the tributaries like the Sydenham and Molly's Creek and the air and all of the wildlife who call these places their home,' Jubenville noted. Absent from the crowd was Steve Pinsonneault, the Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP, who represents Dresden. Pinsonneault has previously spoken out against the proposed landfill on social media but has faced backlash for his frequent silence since the Ford government's reversal . He chose to abstain from voting on Bill 5 rather than casting a vote against it. 'Steve Pinsonneault, show up and do your job buddy, we're waiting,' yelled Stefan Premdas of Dresden C.A.R.E.D, standing beside Stiles. A spokesperson for the MPP's office told CTV News in an emailed statement Pinsonneault had funding announcements and scheduled committee meetings in London. 'While he was not able to be there in person, MPP Pinsonneault remains engaged with the concerns raised by the community and continues to monitor the situation closely,' said Michelle Dwyer, his executive assistant. While the legislation has passed, Stiles encouraged residents to continue their fight against the landfill until it is permanently stopped. '[Doug Ford] introduces a bill, he lies, he lies again, and then we build the public pressure, and he repeals the bill, so this is what we've got to do again,' Stiles said.
