Federal parties called upon to respect the “Quebec consensus on the environment”

Photo: Justin Tang The Canadian Press Although the three spokespeople used leader Pierre Poilievre's slogan during the press conference, they made no indication that their approach was directed at the Conservative Party.

Stéphane Blais – The Canadian Press

Posted yesterday at 3:42 p.m.

• Canada

About twenty organizations are asking federal political parties to commit to respecting Quebec’s environmental achievements when developing their political platforms.

On the eve of possible federal elections, the Vire au vert coalition is asking federal parties to make their position on Quebec’s environmental achievements known.

Pricing pollution through the carbon market, adopting a standard for zero-emission vehicles, adhering to the objectives of the Paris Agreement, meeting targets for reducing pesticides in agriculture, and banning the production of hydrocarbons in Quebec are some of the examples of achievements included in the “Quebec Environmental Consensus,” which was sent to the various political parties a few days ago.

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This consensus “allows us to draw the line” to determine the political promises that “will be credible,” in “other words, what we are putting forward today is common environmental sense,” said Marc-André Viau, director of government relations for Équiterre, at a press conference in Montreal.

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“These are achievements on which we build the future, achievements based on common sense,” said Maggie Harvey of Trajectoire Québec, which promotes citizens' rights in public transportation.

“Common sense,” but not just for the Conservatives

The spokesperson for the Association québécoise des médecins pour l’environnement, Patricia Clermont, added that the coalition wanted to see policy proposals geared toward protecting the environment, because protecting the environment helps protect human health.

“It's a question of common sense,” she said.

Although all three spokespeople used Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s slogan during the press conference, they made no indication that their approach was aimed at the party that claims carbon pricing will cause “starvation” and “a nuclear winter.”

Asked whether he feared that a Conservative victory in the next election would be a step backwards for environmental protection, Marc-André Viau offered a cautious response.

“The current government bought a pipeline that cost us $35 billion, so we have setbacks, or the lack of progress, every day,” so “no matter what government is in power, we work to improve the environmental situation, instead of contributing to its degradation.”

Referring to Pierre Poilievre’s party, the director of government relations for Équiterre added that “apart from a sweater with a slogan on it, we don’t have much to sink our teeth into,” hence the importance, according to him, for political parties to detail their proposals.

A letter asking them to take a position was sent to the parties and the coalition “expects a quick response” from them.

Among the other achievements included in the “Quebec Environmental Consensus,” there is the Quebec law against planned obsolescence, the banning by several municipalities of disposable plastic products, adherence to the Kunming-Montreal Agreement on biodiversity (which comes from COP15), and the law on the conservation of wetlands and aquatic environments, notably.

The Vire au vert coalition includes the Quebec Association of Physicians for the Environment, Vivre en ville, the David Suzuki Foundation, Équiterre, Eau secours, the Coalition for Quebec to Look Better, Environnement Jeunesse, Access to Viable Transportation, the Urban Ecology Center, the Rivières Foundation, the FCQGED, the Student Front for Climate Action, Greenpeace, Mothers on the Front Line, Nature Québec, Pedestrians Québec, Climate Reality Canada, RNCREQ, Trajectoire, OGM Vigilance, and Vélo Québec.