Canadian Youth Unite to Deliver a Message to Members of Parliament: Be Climate Leaders, Keep Bill C-311 Alive!

April 12, 2010, NATIONAL - Following an announcement that Bill C-311, the Climate Change Accountability Act, would face a procedural vote in the House of Commons in order to reach its third reading, a network of Climate Justice activists across Canada have delivered a message to Members of Parliament across Canada: Take action on Climate Change Save Bill C-311.

“Bill C-311 is the only science-based piece of climate legislation in the Canadian parliament, and our best bet for taking the first step towards making Canada a climate leader,” said Sarah McEwen, 24 year old from Winnipeg. “Young people in Canada want to see the government take action, and supporting C-311 is key to that process.”

Bill C-311 will inscribe minimum emission cut targets of 25% below 1990 levels by 2020, and 80% cuts by 2050, the bottom-line scientific cuts needed to keep global temperature rise below 2 C.

“As it stands, Canada has presented targets of 17% cuts below 2006 levels by 2020, this amounts to less than 3% total emissions reductions below 1990 levels. This is half what Canada signed on for with the Kyoto Protocols, and well below the necessary scientific cuts.” Cameron Fenton from Montreal explained. “Without C-311, Canada’s current climate strategy makes each and every Canadian complicit in the drowning of Small Island nations, the spread of drought around the world, and the vast human suffering that will be the result of global climate chaos.”

Canadians of all ages have been emailing, phoning and approaching their MP's over the past week – including two Facebook campaigns which has garnered over 600 actors in two days – to demand Climate Action from a government which has, to date, failed to take action at home and blocked international attempts to reach a fair, ambitious and binding treaty. According to a poll in early December 2009, nearly 75% of Canadians are embarrassed at our government's inaction on Climate Change and want them to do more.

Originally presented as Bill C-377, the Climate Change Accountability Act was previously supported by the three major opposition parties and only stopped by Stephen Harper's first Prorogation of Parliament. The current bill is supported by both the NDP and Bloc, but the Liberal party – since the nomination of Michael Ignatieff as leader – has shown wavering support for the bill.

“Climate change should not be a partisan issue, it is an issue of the utmost importance that affects all Canadians. Politicians need to understand this, regardless of what political party they belong to,” said Meghan Larson of Halifax. “Michael Ignatieff and the Liberal Party need to turn the tide and make the right decision for the Canadian residents they represent. We are calling on them to take a stand and support Bill C-311.”

Actions will be taking place online and across Canada between now and the April 14 to demand climate leadership.

- 30 -

Contacts:
Cameron Fenton, Montreal: (514) 467-6413
Kimia Ghomeshi, Toronto: (416) 294-1602
Meghan Larson, Halifax: (902) 293-2994
Amber Church, Whitehorse: (867) 335-4884
Sarah McEwen, Winnipeg: (204) 979-0930
Maryam Adrangi, Toronto: (416) 996-3478