A researcher from Simon Fraser University who presented at the Penticton Lakeside Resort on Thursday said the Trudeau Liberals are the 害羞草研究所渇irst climate sincere federal government that Canada has had.害羞草研究所�

Dr. Rose Murphy, who specializes in developing models to evaluate government policies for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse emissions, spoke to approximately 125 people at a climate change event hosted by not-for-profit First Things First Okanagan on Oct. 3.

In the upcoming federal election, she said individuals concerned about climate change should vote for 害羞草研究所渃limate sincere害羞草研究所� politicians.

She went on to compare the election 害羞草研究所渇rontrunners,害羞草研究所� who she said were the Justin Trudeau Liberals and Andrew Scheer Conservatives.

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Compared to the Trudeau Liberals害羞草研究所� federal backstop carbon price, which includes levying a tax of $20 on every tonne of greenhouse gas emissions starting this year, rising by $10 each year to $50 a tonne by 2022, she said the Scheer Conservatives promise free carbon pollution everywhere except B.C. and Quebec.

Compared to the Liberals害羞草研究所� clean fuel standard to achieve 30 million tonnes of annual reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, the Conservatives have said they will 害羞草研究所渨ork to increase the availability and use of renewable fuels.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭his is an example of the kind of statement you might see where you害羞草研究所檇 say, 害羞草研究所楬ow will we do that exactly?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 Murphy said.

And compared to the Liberals害羞草研究所� output-based pricing system designed to ensure there is a price incentive for companies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, she said the Conservatives haven害羞草研究所檛 yet defined the stringency of emissions standards they would set for large industry.

The Conservatives害羞草研究所� climate plan, she said, includes actions that are assumed to happen without carbon pricing and mostly without regulations, and uses vague language, making policy difficult to forecast.

She criticized the Conservatives calling them 害羞草研究所渃limate insincere害羞草研究所� and predicted that if they were to come to power, greenhouse gas emissions would increase between 2020 and 2030.

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害羞草研究所淏ased on those criteria, (the Trudeau Liberals) are the first climate sincere federal government that Canada has had,害羞草研究所� she said.

She also acknowledged the Trudeau Liberals害羞草研究所� controversial purchase of the Trans Mountain pipeline, and a 害羞草研究所渃hipping away害羞草研究所� on promising regulations.

害羞草研究所淓ven in British Columbia, maybe the most environmentally-forward jurisdiction of the country with this NDP-Green coalition, we害羞草研究所檙e seeing the same thing as well,害羞草研究所� she said, adding that the coalition has put some good policies in place, but their vehicle emissions and low carbon fuel standards are weak.

害羞草研究所淪o some evidence I think of really 害羞草研究所榗limate sincere害羞草研究所� governments who get worn down by all of these other pressures,害羞草研究所� she said, noting conflicting interests that discourage join action and timelines. 害羞草研究所淚 think this leaves us with a huge role for activism.害羞草研究所�

Murphy said she didn害羞草研究所檛 go into detail about the NDP or Green Party platforms because 害羞草研究所渋t is different writing a climate change plan when you know you害羞草研究所檙e not going to form government.害羞草研究所�

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After the event, South Okanagan West Kootenay NDP MP Richard Cannings told the Western News it害羞草研究所檚 not surprising that the Liberal policies are better than the Conservative ones.

害羞草研究所淪he didn害羞草研究所檛 really talk about the NDP or the Greens害羞草研究所� options, which I think are the real 害羞草研究所榗limate sincere害羞草研究所� parties,害羞草研究所� Cannings said.

Green Party candidate Tara Howse said she was disappointed Murphy didn害羞草研究所檛 look at all five platforms.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a little disappointing because the Green Party is the only platform that actually meets the (International Energy Conservation Code) targets,害羞草研究所� she said.

Howse added she was 害羞草研究所渟hocked害羞草研究所� Murphy still classified the Trudeau Liberals as 害羞草研究所渃limate sincere害羞草研究所� after the purchase of the pipeline.

害羞草研究所淚n the context of doublespeak, of declaring an emergency and then purchasing a pipeline and then calling that 害羞草研究所榮incere climate,害羞草研究所� that is disappointing to me,害羞草研究所� she said, adding that it speaks to the amount of corporate influence driving the fossil fuel industry.

害羞草研究所淭he Green Party is very explicitly saying we need to end that.害羞草研究所�

First Things First Okanagan will be hosting an all-candidates debate on Oct. 15 at the Penticton Lakeside Resort. Residents are invited to participate in a roundtable discussion about environmental issues from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m., with the debate starting at 7 p.m.

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karissa.gall@blackpress.ca
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