Getting Canada on track: NDP's proposed amendments to the Clean Air Act

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Getting Canada on track: NDP's proposed amendments to the " Clean Air Act "

http://www.ndp.ca/page/4570

Canadians want immediate action taken to reduce pollution so their families have

cleaner air to breathe and so that Canada does its part in world-wide efforts

against global warming.

The re-writing of the government’s ineffective and inadequate Bill C-30, the

Clean Air Act by the special legislative committee provides a significant

opportunity to get Canada on track to reduce pollution and to combat climate

change.

With a new Bill, Parliament can ensure meaningful and immediate action is taken

so Canadians can see improvements to the quality of the air they breathe in

their lifetime as well as to protect the planet for their children and

grandchildren.

The NDP is proposing a series of comprehensive changes to Bill C-30 that

re-commits Canada to meet its Kyoto Protocol commitments in the short-term, and

ensures a comprehensive plan to meet science-based and internationally

recognized medium and long-term goals as well.

Leading-up to and throughout the special committee’s work, the NDP will continue

to seek input and additional amendments from environmental experts and

individual Canadians.

The NDP’s Proposed Amendments

* Legislate through the new Act, rather than regulations, short-, medium- and

long-term targets for absolute greenhouse gas reductions by requiring Canada to

meet:

* its Kyoto Protocol 2008-2012 target;

* a science-based 2050 target of 80% below 1990 levels; and

* interim targets at five year intervals between 2015 and 2050.

* Legislate in the Act, rather than in the Notice of Intent, an earlier

deadline for regulating the industrial sector. These regulations to be in place

by 2008.

* Legislate in the Act, rather than through regulations, a hard cap on

greenhouse gas emissions from the industrial sector of at-least 45 megatonnes

per year.

* Legislate in the Act a requirement to develop mandatory standards for

“criteria air contaminants” within one year of the new Act’s passage, along with

a plan to meet these standards that include mandatory emission standards for

large industrial facilities.

* Legislate in the Act, a requirement for a vehicle fuel efficiency standard,

in line with leading North American jurisdictions, to be published by 2008, to

be in place for the 2011 model year in order that vehicle manufacturers have due

notice in advance of the expiry of the voluntary Memorandum of Understanding.

This would be accompanied by a new authority for the government to establish a

just-transition fund for the automobile sector.

* Legislate in the Act, a requirement for the government to establish a cap and

trade carbon market system in Canada.

* Eliminate key tax incentives to the oil and gas sector, in particular the

accelerated capital cost allowance provided to oil sands development.

* Protect the government’s authority to regulate air pollutants and greenhouse

gases to ensure that it is not vulnerable to court challenges by industry.

* Maintain effective provincial equivalency rule in the Canadian Environmental

Protection Act.

* Add new authority for the Environment Minister to designate “significant

areas” under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, thereby being able to

designate “hot zones” such as the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence basin.

* Legislate in the Act, a requirement that programs for implementing the

legislative targets be reviewed for their adequacy annually.

* Due to these fundamental changes, the new Act would be re-named the Healthy

Air and Climate Act.

Additional Measures

* The NDP will seek to have the government exercise its authority under the

Energy Efficiency Act to establish a national advanced energy efficiency program

for home retrofits.

* To complement the improved motor vehicle measures, the NDP will seek timely

implementation of measures contained in the NDP’s Green Car Industrial Strategy.

* The NDP will seek to have the federal government immediately initiate

incentives to foster non-polluting, green industry growth in Canada including

green manufacturing, green energy and green technologies.