Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault is being pushed by activists to move harder and faster to curb emissions. But he’s also trying to engage constructively with wary resource and industry sectors
Steven Guilbeault could look at the thousands of protesters gathered on the streets of Glasgow on Friday, outside the cordoned-off COP26 climate conference where he is representing Canada as the country’s new Environment Minister, and see himself.
since he co-founded the influential environmental group Equiterre and became a household name in Quebec as an early leader of the climate movement? Is he now a different man than the one who was once arrested for a protest stunt at the CN Tower? Even before he was first elected to Parliament in 2019, he said, his position was that new investment in fossil-fuel infrastructure should end, but that rapidly shutting down what already exists was a non-starter. For example, he said he has never joined calls to shut down Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline, which transports Alberta oil into Eastern Canada, because easterners would just get their oil from elsewhere and it would do nothing for emissions.
By contrast, his appointment as Environment Minister was received warily by Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, who called it “very problematic.” More quietly, industry groups – in fossil fuels, and other emitting sectors – have been anxiously trying to gauge whether Mr. Guilbeault’s presence means much more aggressive and less co-operative environmental regulation than in the past.
At this stage, he said, that policy process – formally launched during COP26 – is still at the “conceptual stage.” The government is committed to freezing the industry’s emissions at current levels and then lowering the caps in five-year increments, but details such as future stringency or whether the limits are sector-wide or specific to each site won’t be set until after promised consultations with provinces, companies and others.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
China LGBT rights group shuts down in tightening environmentA LGBT advocacy group in China that has spearheaded many of the country's legal cases pushing for greater rights is halting its work for the foreseeable future.
Read more »
Several Ethiopian armed opposition groups to form allianceEthiopian armed opposition groups forming alliance against Prime Minister in effort to force political transition
Read more »
Saskatchewan promises return of cancelled health-care services to childrenSaskatchewan health minister says province expects to resume health-care services for children in coming weeks
Read more »
Rex Murphy: Trudeau's 'Glasgow declaration' throws Alberta under his minority busThe prime minister essentially excommunicated Alberta from Confederation
Read more »
Politics Briefing: Gladu says O’Toole supports plan to create caucus of MPs, Senators to examine issues around COVID-19 vaccinationAlso, Alberta’s Agriculture Minister quits over struggle with alcohol
Read more »
Free menstrual products coming to on-reserve schools: Indigenous Services ministerFree menstrual products will be available in on-reserve schools 'very soon,' the federal Indigenous Services minister said on Friday. Her announcement came amid criticism that First Nations schools were excluded from an Ontario government partnership with Shoppers Drug Mart to provide menstrual products to school boards. British Columbia, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia have similar programs.
Read more »