Bill C-12 just passed second reading. Now what?
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 05 May 2021 14:48
- Written by editor
Paov,
Yesterday afternoon Bill C-12, The Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, passed second reading at the House of Commons.1 It’s heading to the Environment Committee next, where we expect MPs will make improvements to the legislation. We’ve been campaigning, alongside allied groups and grassroots organizers, for federal leaders to #StrengthenC12 since the Liberals first introduced it back in November. If you contributed to that effort, thank you!
This is good news, but we know it’s just a first step. If Canada is actually going to do our fair share in the global fight against the climate emergency, we need our politicians to address the elephant in the room: the oil and gas industry.2
That’s why, today, we’re flooding Natural Resource Minister Seamus O’Regan’s phoneline to demand immediate action on the long-awaited Just Transition Act. Use our one-click tool to make your call in just 2 minutes.
There can be no climate accountability without a real plan to end fossil fuel subsidies, stop the reckless expansion of fossil fuel production, and phase out the industry for good. To make that possible, the Trudeau government needs to deliver their long-promised... Just Transition Act, legislation designed to protect the workers and communities who will be most affected by the massive economic shift ahead.
Last week, after months of pressure from our movement, Natural Resources Minister Seamus O’Regan finally confirmed that his team is working on a Just Transition Act.3 But that’s all he would say.
Paov, can you take a minute to tell the Minister to stop demand details and a clear timeline?
Our goal is to flood O’Regan’s phone line all day long and make sure he knows promising a Just Transition Act without providing a timeline or specifics is just not good enough. If we can hit 500 calls today, that’s a call for every minute his office is open.
Momentum is on our side. Last week, Unifor – Canada’s largest private-sector union – voiced their support for a 60% 2030 emissions reduction target and called on the federal government to deliver a Just Transition Act.4 The fact that a union representing thousands of Canadian oil and gas workers is pushing for bold climate action is a powerful sign that we’re approaching the end of the fossil fuel era. But now is not the time to sit back. We need to fight to ensure that every person across this country has access to good work through this transition.
You and I know this. Let’s make sure O’Regan knows it too.
With respect and peace,
Clayton
PS - If you're unable to hop on the phone today, you can still support our campaigns to win ambitious climate action. Can you chip in $3.50 to cover the costs of our click-to-call tool? We'd like to keep using it to pressure our political leaders. This tool will be a big part of how we build momentum for our campaign to win a Climate Emergency Alliance.
1 - Open Parliament: Bill C-12
2 - Can Canada reach its emissions targets while still producing so much oil and gas?
3 - The Standard: Ottawa plans to help fossil fuel workers find clean-economy jobs
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