As Liberal Members of Parliament gear up for a national caucus meeting in Edmonton next week, the focus is on elevating climate change as a key issue within the political agenda by establishing a formal caucus dedicated to discussing environmental concerns.
Some MPs are expressing concerns about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s perceived lack of emphasis on green initiatives since taking office. Newly elected Montreal MP Éric St-Pierre highlighted the absence of an environmental caucus when he started as a member of Parliament and, together with Nova Scotia MP Shannon Miedema, proposed the creation of a forum to address climate issues, akin to existing caucuses for women’s and Indigenous matters.
Following virtual meetings over the summer, St-Pierre announced plans for the caucus’s inaugural in-person gathering in Edmonton, inviting all Liberal MPs to participate. Despite his background in climate philanthropy, St-Pierre refrained from criticizing Carney’s environmental efforts as prime minister, expressing confidence in Carney’s knowledge of climate change and expecting forthcoming proposals from the government.
However, unnamed MPs believe Carney should be more vocal about his previous role as a UN special envoy on climate action. They raised concerns about Carney’s cancellation of the consumer carbon price, a key climate policy of the previous government he once supported, and the approval of Bill C-5, which includes provisions for major infrastructure projects like pipelines.
Quebec MP Alexandra Mendes and former leadership candidate Karina Gould are among those set to participate in the environmental caucus meeting to advocate for placing the environment at the forefront of political discussions. While some Liberals support Carney’s balanced approach between energy development and climate action, others believe a stronger emphasis on green initiatives is necessary.
A recent Léger poll showed that only four percent of respondents ranked the environment as their top concern, indicating varying priorities among Canadians. The Prime Minister’s Office was unavailable for comment, but the Minister of Environment’s director of communications highlighted Carney’s commitment to combating climate change and investing in community resilience and climate programs nationwide.