BILL C-311 SUMMARY
updated March 17, 2010
An Act to ensure Canada assumes its responsibilities in preventing dangerous climate change
Tips for Talking about Climate Change
Contact Information for writing letters or making phone calls.
What is it?
The purpose of this enactment is to ensure that Canada meets its global climate change obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change by
- committing to a long-term target to reduce Canadian greenhouse gas emissions to a level that is 80% below the 1990 level by the year 2050, and
- by establishing interim targets for the period 2015 to 2045.
It creates an obligation on the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to review proposed measures to meet the targets and submit a report to Parliament. It also sets out the duties of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy.
The Climate Change Accountability Act is based on the Case for Deep Reductions report by the Pembina Institute, the David Suzuki Foundation, and the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy.
It will establish:
A long-term target to reduce Canadian greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. A medium-term target to bring emissions 25% below 1990 levels by 2020.
These are the medium and long-term targets consistent with the Kyoto process.
To hold government accountable for meeting these targets, the New Democrat legislation will:
Provide authority for the government to make regulations in order to meet the targets and set penalties for those who contravene regulations passed under the Act.
The act, first introduced by Mr. Layton in October 2006, legislates long-term targets to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions and mandates regular reviews and reports on the federal government’s progress. The bill passed in the House of Commons with the support of the Liberals and the Bloc, but the legislative process stopped when Harper called the general election.
In June 2008, climate change activists and environmental leaders around the world celebrated the passage of the world’s first Climate Change Accountability Act. By shutting down Parliament and calling an early election, Stephen Harper killed the bill.
What can you do?
We are asking you to contact MPs and party leaders to urge them to vote for the Climate Change Accountability Act.
- Contact as many people as you can to voice your support for passage of the Climate Change Accountability Act’s science-based greenhouse gas reduction targets.
- Inform your friends and family of the importance of passing this crucial piece of legislation before Copenhagen and encourage them to speak to their MPs.
- Write a letter to your local paper, or call a radio talk show to seek support for this concrete action on climate change.
Together, we can make our government contribute to both national and global solutions now.
Tips for Talking about the Climate Change Accountability Act
- Climate change is an emergency.
- The Climate Change Accountability Act is good first step in fighting climate change. In 2008 when it was passed by all Opposition parties in the House of Commons, the bill was praised by climate change activists and environmental leaders as a “world first” in effective action to stop climate catastrophe.
- Canada used to be a world leader on climate change - we need to take that role again, especially with the up-coming G20 meeting in Canada in June. Passage of the Climate Change Accountability Act will again put Canada among the nations who have shown leadership by committing to hard targets, including Japan and Europe.
- The evidence is in. The time for talk is over: the time for political action is now. The Climate Change Accountability Act was studied in depth in 2008. New science that has emerged since the study indicates that action to reduce emissions is now even more pressing.
- No more “Fossil of the Day” awards – passage of the Climate Change Accountability Act will provide concrete evidence at Copenhagen of Canada’s confidence in the science-based targets and our commitment to join climate leaders in taking immediate action.
- Canadians from all walks of life are concerned about climate change. Our federal government has the power to lead: we need all our elected representatives to come together to support the Climate Change Accountability Act and ensure a viable future for our planet.
Contact Information:
Contact information for all MPs can be found online at: www.parl.gc.ca
Or call toll-free from anywhere in Canada: 1 (866) 599-4999
Contact Information for Party Leaders
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada
Phone: (613) 992-4211 Email: pm@pm.gc.ca
Michael Ignatieff, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada
Phone: (613) 995-9364 Email: IgnatM@parl.gc.ca
Gilles Duceppe, Leader of the Bloc Québécois
Phone: (613) 992-6779 Email: DucepG@parl.gc.ca
Jack Layton, Leader of the New Democrats
Phone: (613) 995-7224 Email: LaytoJ@parl.gc.ca
And contact Alex Atamanenko, MP for BC Southern Interior: 1-800-667-2393 or atamaa@parl.gc.ca