Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer did not take part in Friday害羞草研究所檚 massive climate-change marches as Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau waded in deep, accepting the criticism of teenaged climate-change activist Greta Thunberg along the way.
Both major-party leaders were making political calculations on a day when the federal election campaign was dwarfed by the spectacle of hundreds of thousands of young people across Canada joining millions across the world for a mass protest against political inaction on fighting climate change.
They were rallying behind Thunberg, the 16-year-old Swede who has galvanized the world害羞草研究所檚 young people. She has demonstrated confidence in speaking truth to power with her defiant condemnation of world leaders at the United Nations this past week.
And she commanded rock-star attention before hundreds of thousands of people crammed into Montreal streets, declaring to cheers that fighting the 害羞草研究所渆mergency害羞草研究所� of climate change 害羞草研究所渋s beyond party politics.害羞草研究所�
The federal election campaign was all about that on Friday.
The day began with Trudeau meeting Thunberg in a Montreal hotel. He took part in his capacity as prime minister, but the encounter carried political risk for Trudeau the candidate, who has branded himself as the country害羞草研究所檚 best bet to fight climate change 害羞草研究所� and Scheer the worst.
Thunberg gave Trudeau the same message she given other political leaders.
害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚, of course, obviously not doing enough,害羞草研究所� Thunberg said. 害羞草研究所淭his is such a huge problem; this is a system that is wrong. So my message to all the politicians is the same: to just listen to the science and act on the science.害羞草研究所�
READ MORE: Teens gather en masse across Canada to demand drastic climate action
It could have been worse. In June, after Trudeau approved the $4.5-billion Trans Mountain oil pipeline project, Thunberg said on Twitter: 害羞草研究所淭his is shameful. But of course this is not only in Canada, we can unfortunately see the same pattern everywhere.害羞草研究所�
Trudeau told reporters that he agreed with her Friday assessment, and praised her for inspiring young people.
害羞草研究所淚 agree with her entirely. We need to do more,害羞草研究所� said Trudeau.
害羞草研究所淎nd that害羞草研究所檚 why the ambitious plans we害羞草研究所檝e laid out all week that have been criticized by some as too ambitious, are not too ambitious 害羞草研究所� are necessary.害羞草研究所�
Trudeau also said he will release a fully costed platform that includes assessments of Liberal promises by the parliamentary budget officer before the first televised leaders害羞草研究所� debate on Wednesday.
Trudeau has aligned himself with Thunberg on the campaign trail, praising the activism of young people in general. He has made a series of announcements this week aimed at reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, protecting oceans and habitat and encouraging conservation while simultaneously branding Scheer as a climate-change laggard.
害羞草研究所淎ndrew Scheer is choosing to hide today instead of participating in climate marches,害羞草研究所� Trudeau said Friday.
Scheer literally flew above the fray of the day害羞草研究所檚 events, travelling by plane from Montreal to British Columbia for an infrastructure announcement for new roads and transit systems that he said would cut commute times.
By extension, Scheer said, that would reduce greenhouse gases because people would spend less time in their cars, idling in traffic jams.
Scheer defended his decision not to take part in Vancouver-area climate marches, and said other Conservative candidates were participating.
害羞草研究所淚 believe it害羞草研究所檚 very important not to leave children an economic deficit, a fiscal deficit nor an environmental deficit,害羞草研究所� he said.
Scheer was spending the day in the suburbs of the Lower Mainland, including campaign stops with candidates in Maple Ridge and Richmond.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was spending his fourth straight day campaigning in British Columbia, joining a climate march in Victoria.
At a campaign stop in Ladysmith on Vancouver Island, Singh said Trudeau can害羞草研究所檛 be trusted on climate promises after his pipeline purchase.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 obviously Greta害羞草研究所檚 choice who she wants to meet with, but it害羞草研究所檚 really clear that Mr. Trudeau promised really clearly in 2015 that he would not build the Trans Mountain, that he would oppose it,害羞草研究所� Singh said during an announcement on coastal protection.
害羞草研究所淭hat is something that should give everyone pause.害羞草研究所�
Singh is focusing on securing NDP seats in B.C. from the surging Greens. Green Leader Elizabeth May was across the country Friday, taking part in the Montreal marches.
害羞草研究所淕reta Thunberg has warned us that our house is on fire,害羞草研究所� May said in a statement. 害羞草研究所淭his extraordinary young woman has called on the adults to do our job and keep the children safe. If we don害羞草研究所檛 feel this in our hearts then we are not listening to what the children are saying.害羞草研究所�
Mike Blanchfield, The Canadian Press
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