Alberta environment minister warns ‘the political right’ would undo climate change efforts

Environment Minister Shannon Phillips issued a stark warning Tuesday about the impact of a changing climate and the consequences for environmental policy if the NDP government loses the next provincial election.

In a speech opening the Pembina Institute’s climate summit, Phillips said policy-makers are working to avoid a future where the world is “ungovernable” because of an economic collapse caused by an overheated planet.

She showcased the NDP government’s climate strategy, which includes a broad-based carbon tax that will come into effect on Jan. 1, a cap on oilsands emissions, an accelerated phase-out of coal-fired power and methane emission reductions.

Phillips said the government is pursuing its climate plan within a “highly polarized political environment.”

“The political right in this province can barely conceal their contempt for Premier Notley and her government,” she said to a crowd at the BMO Centre filled with representatives of industry and environmentalists.

“And as we move back into the legislature, we will all hear over and over again now is not the right time for action. For some, there will never be a right time.

“If given a chance, the political right would go about systemically dismantling all of this progress, including the investments in Canada’s economy and the new opportunities in diverse new industries.”

The Opposition Wildrose has vowed, if elected, to scrap the carbon tax, which it says will be economically punishing at a time when Canada is suffering a long-term economic downturn thanks to low oil prices.

In attendance at the climate conference, Don MacIntyre, Wildrose electricity and renewables critic, said the party has to see how other aspects of the NDP’s plan play out before deciding what to do about them.

He scoffed at Phillips’ critique of the opposition and said the NDP is essentially “flying blind” with few details about how its strategy will work in practice.

“We still don’t have anything concrete from them,” said MacIntyre in an interview.

“All we’ve heard is, we’re going to tax you to death. We’re going to suck $3 billion out of this economy. We’re going to do something with it, but we’re not going to tell you what yet.”

The NDP plan calls for a portion of the carbon tax revenue to be used for rebates that will go to two-thirds of Canada households, while the remainder will be used for measures such as public transit and renewable energy projects.

The government says its suite of actions will lower projected emissions growth by 50 megatonnes by 2030, stabilizing Canada’s greenhouse gas production at around current levels.

Progressive Conservative energy critic Rick Fraser criticized Phillips for politicizing a non-partisan event and said her comments ignored the fact the previous Tory government implemented policies such as a carbon levy on large industrial emitters.

“The idea the opposition doesn’t recognize climate change is false,” said Fraser, who was also at the Pembina Institute event.

The PCs are opposed to the NDP’s carbon tax but have no official position yet on what should be done with it if they win the next election. Tory leadership candidate Jason Kenney has called for the tax to be axed, while others within PC ranks have called for the carbon tax to be kept but made revenue-neutral through corresponding cuts to other taxes.

One potentially complicating factor for those wanting to eliminate the carbon tax is the federal Liberal government’s intention to introduce a Canada-wide carbon pricing mechanism that will require provinces to set a minimum price.

David Hone, climate change adviser for Shell, said companies need to be confident that climate change policies are in place for the long term before investing.

He pointed to Australia, which reversed a carbon tax, and the United Kingdom, which ended a bid process for carbon sequestration at the last minute, as ways governments have made it harder for companies to be confident in their environmental investments.

Hone said there’s a clear demand for emission reduction with today’s NDP government, but not necessarily in future ones.

“Is that true after the next election? And the next election after that? That uncertainty has to be managed.”

The Pembina Institute’s Ed Whittingham acknowledged he has concerns that Canada’s climate change efforts could be undone.

He said governments have to demonstrate the environmental, health and economic benefits that will ultimately stem from climate action.

“It’s tough to implement ambitious policy. No question, especially at a time people are hurting,” said Whittingham, executive director of the environmental think tank.

“What we’re trying to do with this conference is to let Canada and Canadans know we’re not alone. Other jurisdictions have taken these steps, they’ve felt some pain and they’ve reaped the benefits from it.”

With files from The Canadian Press

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