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Green Party platform: a comprehensive vision for the fight against climate change

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Montreal, April 7, 2011 – Equiterre hails the Green Party platform, which in addition to containing many interesting environmental measures, includes a major tax reform that would generate 35 billion dollars a year in revenue without increasing the tax burden for Canadians.

“The Green Party platform includes some important measures that need to be put in place if we’re going to protect the environment and be effective in the fight against climate change. This platform shows that the economy and the environment can go hand in hand, with proposals that are as good for the environment as they are for the financial health of the country,” says Steven Guilbeault, deputy executive director of Equiterre.

Climate change
The Greens propose to bring in a $50 per tonne carbon tax, which surpasses the amount put forward earlier this year by the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy. The platform also includes ending subsidies to oil companies and reinvesting this money in renewable energy.

Energy
The Green Party platform also includes measures to increase energy efficiency, with improvements to the home retrofit program and investments in renewable energy modeled on California’s solar initiative program.

Transportation
“The proposal to invest in the rail system, which is currently underdeveloped in our country, is both refreshing and fundamental. In the current context – rising energy prices, the fight against climate change – Canada can’t rely on road and air travel for passenger and freight transport,” adds Steven Guilbeault.

Agriculture
Equiterre is particularly pleased with the Green Party proposal to support farmers who wish to transition to organic farming. It’s also important, however, to include measures that encourage consumption of local products in general, and that facilitate access to land for the next generation of farmers – measures that the Greens haven’t taken a position on in this platform.

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Source:
Éveline Trudel-Fugère
Equiterre
514-605-2000
etfugere@equiterre.org