Climate change is the focus for the federal candidates in the Kenora riding today as we are four days away from the election.
Liberal Bob Nault says leader Justin Trudeau will attend the December 2015 Climate Change Conference in Paris, France.
Nault says if elected Prime Minister, Trudeau will invite Canada’s Premiers to join him, in a bid to fight climate change.
Nault notes the government will also host a First Ministers conference to begin dialogue on finding solutions.
He says the discussions won’t focus on implementing a carbon tax as each province will have the ability to do what’s best for them.
However, Nault notes there will be strict standards.
He adds the Liberals will also phase out subsidies for fossil fuels.
Conservative Greg Rickford says they are continuing to make strides in improving the governments carbon footprint.
Rickford says they are the only government that has seen a net reduction in harmful admissions and notes they have invested millions of dollars in carbon capture storage.
He says the technology has been a success in Saskatchewan and is now making its way to Alberta.
The Minister of Natural Resources says Canada is second only to Japan in clean energy investments.
Rickford says the Conservatives won’t apply a carbon tax, noting the provinces understand what motivates and drives their economy.
The NDP candidate says his party will introduce a cap-and-trade system.
Howard Hampton says the move will substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and notes its worked well in European countries.
Hampton says the government would have to meet certain standards but would have flexibility on their carbon print programs.
He stresses action must be taken as we are closer to reaching our “tipping point”.
Green candidate Ember McKillop says her party will tax Canada’s highest polluters and give that money back to all Canadians.
McKillop says the party will also defend against pipelines, especially the Energy East pipeline.
She says they will also make infrastructure investments to support a move away from fossil fuels.
Kelvin Chicago-Boucher is running as an Independent.
