ELECTION 2019: Trudeau enters hostile territory to make climate promise: Burnaby, where voters are angry over pipeline purchase
Credit to Author: Lori Culbert| Date: Tue, 24 Sep 2019 23:13:58 +0000
Liberal leader Justin Trudeau chose a location less than 10 km from the Burnaby terminus of the Trans Mountain Pipeline to make a major campaign promise to fight climate change.
He was essentially entering hostile territory to try to win over enemies, as many environmentally minded Burnaby voters remain upset over the federal Liberals’ purchase and planned expansion of the pipeline.
When Postmedia asked how voters can square the Liberals’ emissions-reduction campaign pledge with their pipeline ownership, Trudeau insisted his government has a record of taking tough environmental action — and is better than the alternative.
“Conservatives didn’t, and they don’t, take the fight against climate change seriously. We have demonstrated that we have done more over the last four years than any government in Canadian history,” he said, speaking at a Burnaby company that makes materials for electric car batteries.
Liberal leader @JustinTrudeau in Burnaby electric car battery company to make campaign announcement. @liberal_party #elxn43 pic.twitter.com/ZcaXgbT67w
“We recognize there is more to do. … (But) I think Canadians here in Burnaby and right across the country know that we have to fight against climate change, with dedication and seriousness.”
One-term Liberal incumbent Terry Beech is in for a tough fight against veteran NDP challenger Svend Robinson in Burnaby North-Seymour, the riding that includes the pipeline terminus. Trudeau’s announcement was made in the neighbouring Burnaby South riding of NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, who hit the campaign trail in his home territory for the first time Tuesday since the election was called on Sept. 11.
Three days before a youth-led global action strike will take place outside Vancouver City Hall, Trudeau promised that, if his party is re-elected, Canada will join 65 other countries around the world that want net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Liberal leader @JustinTrudeau in Burnaby riding near terminus of #TMX pipeline to announce major climate action promises. #burnaby Voters will want to know how he’ll square buying pipeline with these new campaign promises. @liberal_party #elxn43
The Liberals are also promising to pass legislation to help businesses and workers make the transition to clean energy.
However, Trudeau did not provide a cost estimate or any specific details about how his party would reach the goals — beyond saying they would set “legally binding, five-year milestones, based on the advice of experts.” He also promised to “exceed” an earlier target to reduce emissions by 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030.
Trudeau provided a grocery list of climate accomplishments — including reducing single-use plastics, building 1,200 public transit projects, and making zero-emission vehicles more accessible — but conceded, “There is much more to do.”
Singh’s party issued a blunt response to Trudeau’s credibility on the climate change file. “You. Bought. A. Pipeline,” the NDP’s tweet said.
Before flying to B.C. on Tuesday, Singh made climate-action pledges in Winnipeg, promising to build an east-west clean-energy corridor and to convert all public transit systems in Canada to electric vehicles.
The Green Party has also pledged to hit zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Burnaby environmental John Preissl, an ardent critic of the pipeline expansion, said buying and expanding the pipeline “nullifies (the Liberals’) 2050 promises” because the Alberta oilsands is a massive carbon emitter. “I find it ironic that Prime Minister Trudeau made his promises almost directly across the street from the proposed pipeline,” Preissl said.
But North Vancouver Liberal incumbent Jonathan Wilkinson, who has been Trudeau’s fisheries minister, maintained Tuesday that “there is no inconsistency between the pipeline and fighting climate change.” He argued the upstream emissions from the pipeline are captured in the 2050 climate plan, and that the pipeline is a safer way to ship oil than by rail, at least until the world’s demand for the product declines.
With Trudeau and Singh in the same riding, reporters asked if the Liberal leader would live up to his promise to apologize in person for wearing racist face paint at least three items in his past. Singh, the first member of a visible minority to lead a federal party in Canada, has said the images have hurt people who have suffered racism and discrimination.
“I can assure you that our offices are working together to coordinate that conversation,” Trudeau said, repeating an apology for his actions.
Also on Tuesday, a protest against the Trans Mountain Pipeline was planned for downtown Vancouver.
Trudeau’s announcement coincides with the launch of new Liberal campaign ads about saving the environment, one of which was shot as Trudeau hiked the Grouse Grind in North Vancouver.
Twitter: @loriculbert
— with file from Canadian Press