Let’s put the environment on the election map

On October 19, Canadians go to the polls. We want to make sure the environment—and in particular climate change—receives the attention it deserves from federal candidates.

Sierra Club BC has released a report, prepared by the University of Victoria’s highly respected Environmental Law Centre, detailing how British Columbia’s Environmental Assessment (EA) process fails to consider climate change. Blind Spot: The Failure to Consider Climate in British Columbia’s Environmental Assessments also shows how climate considerations can be built into the EA process.

We call it the Climate Test. Projects that fail the test will not proceed, helping B.C. achieve desperately needed emission reductions. LNG terminals and tar sands pipelines, for example, would not pass the test.

The need for a Climate Test is not just a B.C. issue. Other provinces can adopt something similar. And so can the federal government.

Canada’s environmental laws and regulations have been severely weakened, over the last few years. Re-instating, and enforcing, strong environmental laws and strengthening our national environmental review process are crucial steps to climate action.

Climate is not currently being considered in federal reviews of projects such as Enbridge Northern Gateway or Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline and tankers.

Ask your local candidates where they stand: Will they commit to ensuring climate impacts are considered when energy projects such as pipelines are reviewed?

Our election page lays out a number of questions, in addition to the Climate Test, we think local candidates should answer on the environment. It also shows how you can make sure you are registered to vote.

Click here to visit our election page

Let’s talk to our candidates now so we can hold them accountable after the election!

Want to do more? Let the B.C. Government know that the Climate Test needs to be a priority! 

Photo by TJ Watt