So here’s a good one.  An epidemiologist, a virologist and a pediatrician walked into a bar…. Just kidding.  They are way too smart to walk into a bar in a pandemic.

Is it too soon for COVID humour?

And how about how we can no longer use that expression “avoid it like the plague”? We cannot use it because we know people do not avoid a plague…

And I will not ever say something has “gone viral” ever again.

I had a lovely visit on Thursday with a dear friend and Canadian icon, Senator Pat Carney. With six foot distance and all proper COVID protocols!  It is one of the more amazing things about how our paths have crossed and re=crossed again since 1986, that this venerable Progressive Conservative is now one of my favourite constituents.

It is easy to forget how much she accomplished as a woman in politics.  And when she was at the height of her career, handling multiple complex files, from trade disputes to saving what is now Gwaii Hannas National Park, far too frequently to count, the men in the Cabinet took the credit for her work. Ah well … tout ca change!

She suggested to me that, while she knows how hard I am working and that with Parliament only operating on Zoom and with limited physical participation, people may not know what I have been doing on their behalves.   I know I have never worked so hard in my life. And I equally know that I have succeeded in changing government policy more quickly and more often since mid-March, than in all my time as an MP.  A short list includes getting Finance Canada to recognize that religious institutions should qualify for COVID relief, working (with others) to get the wage subsidy up from 10% to 75%, getting a change in the Order in Council to allow married couples and immediate family members to have a right to come home, working for an Inquiry in the Canadian Senate into the impact of “wellness checks” and how they lead to so many deaths, and – of course – a host of issues for individual businesses and individual constituents.  Most recently, I helped the Canadian-Lebanese community press for more funds for relief following the devastating blast in Beirut.  I am working on a plan now to help all schools in Canada re-open safely.  It is a big idea, and I’ll tell you about it if it can come together.

Another element of my workload, in addition to parliamentary committees for hours nearly every day, has been submissions to the government. Last week was the deadline for all submissions to Finance Canada about how we should restart our economy.  Have a look.  Here are some highlights:

“We … urge that you, and the entire Cabinet, accept and absorb, as a priority matter, the current state of the climate emergency.  It is not an “issue” that we can manage with a 2050 deadline. It is much closer.    As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) explained in its October 2018 Special Report on 1.5 degrees, failure to take action to reduce by 45% globally against 2010 levels emissions of carbon dioxide will guarantee that we will close the window on 1.5 degrees C.  This is not a political target. It is a reality of atmospheric chemistry and physics. When the window closes, it cannot, ever, re-open.

“Shooting past 1.5 degree C implies heightened risks that human civilization cannot survive to the end of this century.  Unlike COVID-19, which brings threats to attention in the near term, the climate emergency threatens far larger risks, but over a slower time line.  The dreadful aspect (in the literal sense of an aspect that inspires dread) is that decisions we make in the next eighteen months will set an irrevocable course. That course can either take us to climate stability or to an unlivable world within the lifetime of our children….

“The imperative of climate action requires that Finance Canada adopt a climate lens. Just as dealing with COVID-19 brought Finance Canada into close alignment with public health goals, so too must the next phase be aligned with climate science. That implies zero new fossil fuel expansion and the shuttering of some existing operations.

“Top priorities for stimulus spending include:

1)    No spending – at all – should assist fossil fuels or fossil fuel infrastructure. We urge you to wind up the Canada Development Investment Corporation subsidiary, the Trans Mountain Corporation. Funds are needed for a revamped electricity grid. The Infrastructure Bank has, quite rightly, placed an emphasis on interties to expand interprovincial connectivity. The opportunity costs of TMX are not justifiable.

2)    Massive investments should be made in renewable electricity generation from wind, solar, geothermal, run-of-the river hydro.

3)    Investments in mega-dams are not needed nor wise as they are uncompetitive with the dropping price of renewables.

4)    No investment in nuclear energy is wise, not just due to the inherent toxic and radioactive legacy problems, but because nuclear cannot deliver the job creation, nor be competitive for the cost per kwh, compared to solar, wind or geothermal.

5)    Invest in a national energy corridor for electricity generated by renewables.

6)    Invest in public infrastructure to support the transition to electric vehicles, both for personal use and public transit.

7)    Upgrade our built infrastructure to energy efficiency for carbon and carbon negative buildings and a massive programme of building retrofits to reduce GHG from “leaky” buildings and reduce the cost to building owners. Given the long term advantage in energy savings, this programme should be cost shared with commercial and residential owners. The former Eco-Energy Programme provides a template, but this should be much more comprehensive.

8)    Unleash the buying power of federal procurement to use only ‘green’ concrete, and energy efficient design.

9)    Deliver on the promised tree-planting promise, using ecologically appropriate trees by eco-region, aiming at two critical needs – urban forests to improve micro-climates and reduce urban heat islands and replanting areas destroyed by forest fires, stabilizing slopes along creeks and rivers.

10)   Transition funding for all communities and individual workers impacted by the transition off fossil fuels.”

That letter is from all three Green MPs. Jenica and Paul are also doing an awesome job.  This week, Jenica covered parliament raising a range of issues, particularly the urgent need to fund Clinic 554 in Fredericton, the only provider for reproductive health care, abortions and medical help for women in the Trans community.  I am so proud to work with such an amazing team.

Best wishes to all,

And will be back in your in-box next Sunday!

Elizabeth

PS: Written for Canadian Politics and Public Policy by Elizabeth May Aug 10, 2020 – Climate Apocalypse Now: Venus, Anyone?

This weekly newsletter is published by Elizabeth’s EDA in Saanich-Gulf Islands. You can sign up for it here.

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At a news conference on Parliament Hill, members of the Green Party outline their proposed plan for economic recovery following the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Elizabeth May, the Green Party parliamentary leader, is in attendance in Ottawa, while Jo-Ann Roberts, the Green Party interim leader, and MPs Paul Manly and Jenica Atwin join the event via teleconference.

June 11, 2020

OTTAWA – As Canada starts to emerge from months of pandemic lockdown, the Green Party of Canada unveils Reimagining Our Future, a bold and detailed blueprint for a just and prosperous recovery that will drive the transition to the green economy of the 21st century.

“This deadly pandemic has been challenging and heart-wrenching for millions of Canadians, and we are still not out of the woods,” said Green Party Interim Leader Jo-Ann Roberts. “On so many levels our daily lives and how we do business will be forever changed. Undoubtedly, there will be ongoing discussions and investigations as we unpack the lessons learned and plot our path forward. While this terrible crisis continues to impact Canada and the world, we cannot ignore the present and urgent threat of the climate emergency.

“Reimagining Our Future is the policy framework to propel Canada into a new and exciting future. The plan recommits us to restore resilience in the economy, while remembering the primary lesson of the pandemic – that we are all in this together. Underpinning the plan is a long overdue commitment to evidence-based policy and legislation. And, we will renegotiate societal contracts to reflect a more equitable society that respects all citizens.”

Green parliamentary leader Elizabeth May (MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands) said: “According to a recent poll by Ekos research, 73 per cent of Canadians are looking for transformative change in the post-pandemic recovery. This is a moment of enormous potential. We will not go ‘back to normal’ if that means normal levels of poverty, inequality, abuse of our elders and polluting industries that must be cleaned up. We must reimagine our future.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that governments can act quickly and decisively in response to an emergency. Throughout the crisis, Canadian officials and citizens have adhered to the advice of public health officers. Reimagining Our Future advocates for a Chief Climate Science Officer to regularly update and inform Candians on the climate crisis.

Climate scientists have repeatedly warned that insufficient action on climate will lead to runaway global warming. Reimagining Our Future calls for an orderly retreat from fossil fuels to ensure Canadian workers are part of a just transition and that future public investments are consistent with climate goals.

Greens applaud the federal government’s quick fiscal response to support Canadian citizens and businesses during the pandemic. However, Reimagining Our Future advocates the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) be converted to a permanent Guaranteed Livable Income (GLI).

“Canada needs a stronger safety net, one that ensures no one will fall through the cracks. A Guaranteed Livable Income is a fair system that alleviates poverty and rewards work,” said Paul Manly (MP, Nanaimo-Ladysmith). “A single, universal benefit will eliminate the enormous cost of administering the current patchwork of federal and provincial assistance programs. The Green Party has been championing the idea of a GLI for decades. The need for it has never been more clear.”

Mr. Manly also pointed out how COVID-19 had exposed the disgraceful conditions in private long-term care facilities, the lack of support for Canadians dealing with mental health issues and many other gaps in our health-care system. Reimagining Our Future calls for de-privatizing long-term care and bringing mental health under the Canada Health Act.

“”It’s clear that a national strategy for long-term care is needed,” said Manly. “Establishing federal standards of care will improve conditions for both seniors in care and the workers who support them. Every loophole or lax regulation that incentivizes operators to wring profit from these facilities through substandard care and substandard working conditions must be removed permanently.”

The pandemic has also highlighted the need to rethink work and education. Reimagining Our Future proposes more telecommuting and shorter working hours, both of which will benefit worker well-being and the environment. Eliminating student debt and providing free tuition is crucial as is ensuring that every Canadian has access to fast, reliable internet service.

“The last few months of lockdown measures across the nation have taught us how much we value the physical presence of our friends, family, and neighbours,” said Jenica Atwin (MP, Fredericton). “That desire for community will equip us to stand together through the economic and societal restructuring to come. I am excited by the opportunity to rethink government services and policies to put people first with a focus on well-being. With this foundation, we can create the transformative change we need.”

Reimagining Our Future

# # #

For more information or to arrange an interview:

Debra Eindiguer

613-240-8921

debra@greenparty.ca

Rosie Emery

Press Secretary

613-562-4916 ext, 204

rosie.emery@greenparty.ca

The post Time for boldly Reimagining Our Future – reconnected, renewed, resilient appeared first on Elizabeth May.

OTTAWA – Green Party MPs applaud the federal government’s pandemic relief efforts made during the COVID-19 pandemic and appreciate ongoing opportunities for dialogue and consultation between the parties to seek solutions that work for both citizens and businesses affected by the crisis.

As Canada prepares to open up sectors of the economy and consider economic stimulus options, the Green caucus says that spending plans must be developed with a lens on the other crisis, the climate emergency. “This is an opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare Canada for future emergencies through green infrastructure development. What the Green Party wants to see is investments in public infrastructure rather than stimulus spending on P3s and private infrastructure ,” said MP Paul Manly Green caucus critic for labour, employment, workforce development and disability inclusion

A recent report by Nobel winning economist Joseph Stiglitz and renowned British climate economist Lord Nicholas Stern, based on interviews with over 200 experts from central banks and economists from G20 countries, found that investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency will create a large number of jobs in the short term while we are in a recession and jobs are scarce. Investments in fossil fuels could stall economic recovery.

One key piece of infrastructure the Green Party proposes is the construction of an east-west and north-south electricity grid that would connect the provinces and territories. The grid would maximize each region’s renewable energy capacity. “It’s important that new infrastructure projects remain publicly owned to realize the full value of taxpayers’ investments,” said Manly. “The sale of Hwy 407 in Ontario is a cautionary tale that should be heeded. That highway cost $1.5 billion to build and was then sold in 1999 for $3.1 billion to a Spanish multinational corporation. It’s now valued as high as $28 billion and this corporate owned ‘cash cow’ costs Ontario drivers almost a billion dollars each year to use.”

Another spending priority identified in the Stern-Stiglitz report that delivers a high number of jobs per dollar is energy retrofits of older buildings. “Energy retrofit programs directed towards lower income households would decrease social and health inequality by shrinking real electricity costs and keep houses warm in the winter,” Manly noted. “If we want to reward our low-wage frontline workers, providing energy efficient homes would be a good way to do that and save them money.”

MP Atwin (Fredericton) sees potential in federal funds supporting provincial infrastructure. “Investing in health care and long term care infrastructure are both badly needed across the nation, and these facilities can be among the first to see widespread energy efficiency retrofits,” said Jenica Atwin, Green caucus critic for health. “After witnessing the tragedy in private long term facilities it’s clear that these facilities should also be publicly owned.”

“As we craft the economic recovery from COVID-19, we have a unique opportunity to combine fiscal investments with climate responsibility,” said Elizabeth May, Green parliamentary leader. “The ideas that these experts are bringing forward – leading economists, scientists and innovators – need to be heeded the same way we listen to the health authorities. There is a path forward through this Covid-19 crisis and through the climate emergency that will leave a lasting legacy of a liveable planet for our children and grandchildren.”

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OTTAWA – The price of a barrel of oil is in free-fall and, while some COVID-19 related issues may be involved, the overwhelming reason is the global glut of cheaper oil caused by the Saudi-Russia price war.

Green Party caucus trade critic Paul Manly (MP, Nanaimo-Ladysmith) points out that Saudi Arabia has the ability to keep prices at levels so low that the barrel itself is worth more than the oil sands bitumen it contains.

“The Saudi strategy is to put U.S. Bakken shale producers out of business,” said Manly. “Like oil from Alberta’s oil sands, Bakken shale oil is very polluting and expensive to produce. As long as the Saudis keep the taps open, both will be squeezed out of the market. Saudi Arabia can afford to keep prices so low for so long it makes no sense to continue oil sands production.”

“It is critical that policy makers differentiate between supporting businesses that are suffering in this pandemic, and bailing out businesses that are going through market shifts that industry observers have long predicted.

Mr. Manly points to Western Canada Select (WCS), a mix of bitumen and light crude that is currently selling for less than $5 a barrel. “Light crude is worth far more than bitumen so WCS is close to giving bitumen away at this point. West Texas Intermediate is light crude and is selling at $25 per barrel. There should be no bailing out bitumen’s sinking boat. It is expensive to produce so its breakeven point is closer to $35 to $45 a barrel and as high as $60 per barrel for some mines. We need to acknowledge this and invest in the future, which is in renewable energy.”

The Green Party’s 2019 Platform outlines a clear and comprehensive strategy to transition towards a zero-carbon economy through the creation of new industries and well-paid jobs. Mission Possible is a just and fair transition plan that demonstrates the path to a stable and prosperous green economy.

“We support helping the people of Alberta, the workers and the businesses we will need in the recovery period and beyond,” said Green parliamentary leader Elizabeth May (MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands). “The whole services sector for oil and gas has transferable skills in a post-carbon economy. We should provide funding for the remediation of the toxic legacy of the oil sands and the clean up of the 100,000 orphaned and abandoned wells in the province. We should support a cross-Canada economic stimulus in retrofitting every building to become carbon negative- producing more energy than it uses. Greens want to support transition jobs for fossil fuel workers, in economic activity that has a chance of building for the future.”

The Green Party underscores the importance of substantial investments in renewable energy in Alberta, including converting orphaned wells, where viable, to generate geothermal electricity. Now is the time to begin the transition.

“We should be investing now to not only put money in people’s pockets today but to also give them hope for the future,” said Interim Leader Jo-Ann Roberts. “Support is also needed for Alberta’s farmers, the forestry sector, small businesses and the tourism sector, to ensure that the transition to a new high-tech economy is in place when COVID-19 recedes. Investing in workers and green jobs now means energy workers in every province will thrive in the future in a healthy Canada.”

“To avoid a global climate emergency, which is a far greater threat to humanity than COVID-19, we need to pivot away from fossil fuels, begin a significant Just Transition Strategy for fossil fuel workers and ready the next economic stimulus package to Mission Possible and the Green New Deal,” concluded Ms. May.

# # #

For more information or to arrange an interview:

Rosie Emery

Press Secretary

613-562-4916×206

rosie.emery@greenparty.ca

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