Conservative Party of Canada leader Erin O’Toole unveiled the party’s climate plan on Thursday (April 15).
The party says independent analysis, conducted by Navius Research, found the plan would be expected to achieve substantially the same emissions reductions by 2030 as the Liberal government’s current plan, with the intention of creating jobs and growing the economy.
“Our plan takes swift action on climate change,” says O’Toole. “Our plan trusts Canadian families to be part of the climate change plan. When compared to the Trudeau Carbon Tax, our plan is just as effective in emission reduction but vastly superior in preserving jobs and growing the Canadian economy.”
The plan includes eliminating the federal carbon tax and working with provinces to implement an innovative, national Personal Low Carbon Savings Account. The plan will maintain a price on carbon, without “one penny going to the government, recognizing that Canadians are the ones who should be choosing the best way for them to live a greener lifestyle.”
The plan includes several other measures, including: requiring automakers to sell more zero emission vehicles; lowering industrial emissions; increasing use of renewable natural gas; and implementing a low carbon fuel standard.
Under the topic of carbon capture in the full report, the party plans to introduce a tax credit to deploy Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) in the energy sector and important industries that have few alternatives to burning fossil fuels, like fertilizer and chemical production. The party says it would invest $5 billion in CCUS.
Also of note in the report is the listing of natural climate solutions such as: recognizing and encouraging emissions-reducing practices like low/no-till and 4R Nutrient Stewardship. The plan predicts an additional investment of $3 billion between now and 2030 to focus on management of forest, crop, and grazing lands, as well as restoration of grasslands, wetlands, and forests.
