How the new government can take a more collaborative approach on climate change

In Canada, there have been several federal elections since 2000, and five of them have resulted in minority governments (Paul Martin in 2004; Stephen Harper in 2006 and 2008; Justin Trudeau in 2019 and 2021). Surely, this should be taken as a powerful message from voters: “We don’t trust majority governments. We want you all to work together for Canadians.”

History shows that the politicians have yet to take this message to heart. Martin’s minority was replaced by successive Harper minority governments in 2006 and 2008. More recently, it has been Trudeau’s turn. Political opportunism has been the prime motive for these snap elections. The interests of the Canadian public have been largely relegated to the insignificant and irrelevant bin.

The climate and its closely connected biodiversity crisis, along with the exceptionally short time frame within we must act, demands that our politicians behave differently this time around. Consider the following:

Last month, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) must peak by 2025 and then significantly drop.

The decrease in global diversity is nothing short of precipitous and it will profoundly impact the biosphere upon which we all depend.

Governments agree that 2030 must be regarded as a hard deadline for nations to drop their GHG emissions by at least 50 per cent if not more.

With our recent election resulting in our second successive minority government, it should be clear that Canadians now expect four years of productive co-operation leading to measurable and substantial steps on the single greatest issue to ever face humankind — climate change. The price for yet another possible snap election would indeed be high.

The next four years (2021 to 2025) constitute a critical period during which we must effectively address what we have in words acknowledged as a “climate emergency.”

So, what will this new form of party co-operation look like? Let’s first take an inventory and determine what powerful opportunities it creates:

The NDP has elected 10 MPs that various non-governmental organizations (Canada 350, Leadnow and GreenPac) identify as “climate champions.” They are Taylor Bachrach, (Keena — Bulkley Valley); Richard Cannings, (South Okanagan—West Kootenay); Laurel Collins, (Victoria); Blake Desjardins (Edmonton Griesbach); Lee Gazan (Winnipeg Centre); Matthew Green (Hamilton Centre); Lori Idlout (Nunavut); Gord Johns (Kootenay — Alberni); Peter Julian (New Westminster — Burnaby) and Heather MacPherson (Edmonton Strathcona).

The Liberals have also elected nine climate-concerned MPs: Terry Beech (Burnaby North—Seymour); Julia Dabrusin (TorontoDanforth); Terry Duguid (Winnipeg North); Kristy Duncan (Etobicoke North); Karina Gould (Burlington); Steven Guilbeault (Laurier Sainte-Marie); Joyce Murray (Vancouver Quadra); Peter Schiefke (Vaudreuil-Solanges) and Jonathan Wilkinson (North Vancouver).

So, what if these individuals formed a “climate caucus” within their respective parties — a group that co-ordinates with each other and with their caucus as a whole, a group that shows up together for announcements and press releases, with different members taking turns as the spokesperson? If this is truly a climate emergency, then why are we stuck with the old practice of having only one lone person as the party spokesperson on a particular file or issue? Surely a mini-caucus idea would raise the profile of this truly existential, non-partisan and time-sensitive global issue. Surely it would more readily convert words into deeds.

In addition, four Conservative MPs, two Bloc Québécois and two Greens have been identified as climate champions. Perhaps they also need to be invited into the other two climate caucuses? Or, if Parliament becomes really sold on the idea of working together on what is surely the mother of all non-partisan issues, what if we had just one climate caucus that advised Parliament as a whole? Could we even go as far as forming a coalition government that uses a climate lens for all its decisions?

One thing is overwhelmingly clear: we must change the way we conduct business in our elected parliament. We must act in the national interest. We must shed partisan posturing in the face of the greatest crisis to ever face us. We must adopt a common approach to our common problem.

What can you do about this as an elector or young person nearing voting age? Write your MP. Demand this new approach. Please, don’t squander this once-in-a lifetime opportunity. This may well be our last chance.