Liberal MP talks Climate Change

Town hall at Tong Louie YMCA hosted by MP facilitates discussion

“From a Liberal government’s perspective, we’re about making evidence-based policies. The evidence that we’re seeing is that climate change is here,” says Cloverdale Liberal MP John Aldag. He stands before a room of ten guests, two staff members at his side, and a television screen behind him. Before the presentation on it begins, Aldag tells his audience that the evening is “prey informal,” and suggests that they offer their feedback as often as possible.

Throughout the next two hours, the screen displays his talking points and questions posed to the attendees. There were four of them prepared for the event: What are your thoughts on solutions to reducing greenhouse gases that you would like to see government, businesses, and communities implement? what are your ideas for growing the economy and jobs while reducing emissions? how do we promote innovation and new technologies while reducing greenhouse gas emissions? and what can we, as Canadians, do to adapt to the impacts of climate change that will support affected communities, including Indigenous communities?

The answers he got were surprisingly passionate and thought-out. Each of the attendees spoke extensively about how to approach climate change, even though some of them professed to being novices on the subject. Others were extremely well-versed and involved in environmental organizations, and the combination resulted in a free-flowing and educational forum.

Some of the suggestions that the audience made to their government were on the subject of transportation. Offering larger incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles, making transit more reliable, and developing town centres and light rail lines to make travelling more efficient were all points raised. Aldag looks to Surrey’s fleet of five fully-electric cars and car sharing program as an example of what the rest of the world can aspire to when it comes to green transportation.

The most sensational recommendation made was to shut down the tar sands and pipelines, potentially by cutting incentives and investment in the fossil fuel industry and putting them into clean energy instead. Less dramatic ideas were to pay for pilot projects for clean energy projects, encourage citizens to shop locally instead of supporting international trade, and put more emphasis on events like the town hall through social media and advertisement.

Debate was held over the effectiveness of the carbon tax, with both sides possessing equally rational arguments. One audience member believed that the tax was an ineffective “punishment to the general public,” and the other cited statistics about its past success and vouched that it decreases vehicle emissions. Questions were asked about where the money from that tax ought to go, whether it be a direct cheque to Canadian citizens or money spent on environmental initiatives.

A self-proclaimed SPCA volunteer testified that education is key to make a difference to global warming, and stated that all children should be taught how to take care of the planet from a very young age. That demands government funding to university and high school programs and research, which she believed will make them grow up feeling as if climate change is a moral—and therefore important—issue.

Increasing money spent on the construction of environmentally friendly housing is one unanimous request from the group, Aldag included. Options are explored, with an emphasis on funding solar-powered businesses.

By the time the meeting came to a close, it had lasted for an hour longer than intended. A lack of passion was certainly not a problem at the hall, but the lack of bodies was disappointing. So, too, was the fact that there was never a thorough conversation on the effects of climate change on Indigenous communities, which was outlined in the event description.

Notes from the town hall discussion were taken by Aldag’s staff and sent to Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, who will show them to the first ministers. Several other town halls on various subjects will be held across Canada in the future, including one hosted this August by Aldag on electoral reform.