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Canada’s political parties are facing less than two weeks to wine and dine the electorate with their campaign platforms. Of course the platforms span social & economic issues (and leadership styles), but: how are they adding up so far on environmental issues? While overall attention to climate change has waned in the 2011 election compared to 2008, the big parties still have significant promises for environmentally conscious voters ahead of May 2. The major parties, their leaders and selections of their environmental platforms include:

Liberals – Michael Ignatieff

The 2011 Liberal platform emphasizes investment in clean technology and increased environmental responsibility.

Carbon pricing:  While the party previously advocated for a carbon tax under former leader Stéphane Dion, they have prioritized cap-and-trade in 2011. The Liberals intend to work with leading provinces and the Western Climate Initiative framework to implement a North American emissions trading system for “all sectors of the economy with no exceptions.”

Energy & fuel: The Liberals promise to improve the sustainability of the oil sands while capping tax breaks to companies operating in the sector (similar to Green Party initiatives). Ignatieff includes the fossil fuel sector in Canada’s short term energy future but suggests the country will be a green energy superpower after a transition away from fossil fuels over “at least a couple of generations.”  To help quadruple domestic renewable energy production from 2009 levels by 2017, and in a similar move as the Conservatives, the Liberals support loan guarantees for the Lower Churchill hydro project. 

Conservatives – Stephen Harper

The Conservative founding policy declaration states that environmental goals must be “strong, coordinated and achievable” and includes references to global binding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets.

Carbon pricing:  The party supports domestic cap-and-trade of “smog-causing pollutants” but aim to reduce GHGs through reducing carbon intensity (amount of GHGs released per unit of production). Stephen Harper advocated for North American GHG cap-and-trade in the 2008 Speech from the Throne but has since pulled any public support for such a scheme.

Energy & fuel: The Tories believe the government should promote alternative and transitional fuels, citing pollution concerns and the potential expense of securing traditional (largely fossil fuel-based) fuel sources. Under the Conservatives the previous government committed to “phase out and rationalize” fossil fuel subsidies but have not taken public action. The party has pledged to financially support Newfoundland and Labrador’s Lower Churchill hydroelectric project, including using loan guarantees.

New Democrats – Jack Layton

If elected, the NDP plan to re-introduce the Climate Change Accountability Act. The bill received support from both the Liberals and Bloc Québécois (but not the Conservatives) when it was first introduced in 2006. A second introduction of the bill was defeated in the Senate in 2010.

Carbon pricing:  The party supports carbon pricing and its election platform includes immediately beginning design of a cap-and-trade program. The NDP intend to work closely with US regulators to develop a “coordinated” and integrated North American cap-and-trade scheme.

Energy & fuel: The NDP vows to end $2 billion in subsidies to companies operating in the oil sands and reinvest the funds into clean energy projects. More generally, the party’s platform promises to meet the previous government’s G20 commitment to cutting subsidies to non-renewable energy. However, the NDP acknowledges the role that fossil fuels will play in Canada’s “medium term” energy mix.

Green Party – Elizabeth May

The Greens are emphasizing their fulsome party platform in addition to a traditional environmental focus. This includes a call for Canada to enforce decisions made in the United Nations’ 2010 COP16 (see Delphi’s previous coverage).

Carbon pricing:  The party supports a tax on carbon emissions, potentially to complement a cap-and-trade system. The Greens plan to “shift” taxes to carbon-intensive items like electricity and fuel and away from other taxes to create a “generally” neutral overall tax.

Energy & fuel:  The Greens promote investment in renewable energy while eliminating subsidies for the nuclear and fossil fuel sectors, including the accelerated capital cost allowances for oil sands investments. The Liberals also plan to cut the oil sands accelerated allowances.

Bloc Québécois – Gilles Duceppe

The Bloc includes sustainable development as a tenent of its party platform, though not all of the party’s initiatives have been formally released in English during this election. The party emphasizes Québec sovereignty to facilitate sustainability and federal implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.

Carbon pricing: The Bloc supports carbon pricing, using a “true carbon market” according to its 2008 election policy statements. The party is expected to support a cap-and-trade structure but has not assertively discussed such a scheme.

Energy & fuel: The party has proposed developing a surtax on the profits of “major oil companies” and aims to reduce overall dependence on oil. The Bloc believes in ending subsidies to fossil fuel-based companies and promotion of electric vehicles.