✔︎ Bill C-317, National Strategy on Floor and Drought Forecasting Act

Bill

Bill C-317, An Act to establish a national strategy respecting flood and drought forecasting

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

The Bill would require the Minister of the Environment, in collaboration with specific ministers and in consultation with provinces, municipalities, Indigenous governing bodies and other stakeholders, to develop and table a national strategy respecting flood and drought forecasting within two years. It would also require the preparation and tabling of a report assessing the strategy’s efficiency, within five years.

Passed.

Bill Status

At consideration in committee in the House of Commons

Question to PS van Koeverden on Modernizing CEPA

Thank you to PS van Koeverden for answering my question in the House of Commons on the government’s progress in modernizing the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).

✔︎ Bill C-50, Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act

Bill

Bill C-50, An Act respecting accountability, transparency and engagement to support the creation of sustainable jobs for workers and economic growth in a net-zero economy

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

The Government of Canada has committed to take action to support a shift to a net-zero economy for Canadian workers and communities, including through the introduction of legislation and measures to support the creation of sustainable jobs. A robust federal transparency and accountability framework is required to clearly articulate the government’s approach and ensure coordinated action over time as the net-zero transition evolves.

Passed.

Bill Status

At report stage the House of Commons

✘ Bill C-219, Canadian Environmental Bill of Rights

Bill

Bill C-219, An Act to enact the Canadian Environmental Bill of Rights and to make related amendments to other Acts

Vote

Nay.

Rationale

Although Bill C-219 shares our same goal of recognizing the right to a healthy environment in federal law, it differs from the current Government approach, such as integrating procedural rights like public participation into specific environmental statutes as is made possible through CEPA. This not only creates uncertainty as to how Bill C-219 and CEPA would interact, but it can also result in policy coherence issues and challenges when it comes to the interpretation of/with other federal statutes. Overall, this Bill is not well-aligned with CEPA, which recently received Royal Assent, or Bill C-226 (Environmental Racism). I would consider supporting a similar Bill that addresses these inconsistencies and uncertainties and is better aligned with the government’s overall environmental strategy.

Failed.

Bill Status

Bill defeated

The governments of Canada and British Columbia invest in Fraser River Bank Erosion Protection

December 1, 2023 – Abbotsford, British Columbia

Efforts to reduce the risk of further erosion on the Fraser River bank, and in particular that of the Matsqui Dike, are receiving much needed support, thanks to the combined investment of more than $19 million from the governments of Canada and British Columbia, along with the City of Abbotsford.

Announced by MP John Aldag, Minister Nathan Cullen, and Mayor Ross Siemens, the project will increase the resilience of the dike -- which is situated on the Sumas First Nation’s traditional fishing territory, and also protects the Matsqui First Nation downstream.

This project is the first of its kind to address flooding and bank erosion concerns in Abbotsford through a collaborative approach between Sumas First Nation, the City, and the Province. The project design incorporates Indigenous knowledge, engineering, and environmental solutions to minimize the risk of Fraser River flooding due to a Matsqui Dike breach, while restoring fishing sites and improving fish habitat.

Overall, the project will reduce the likelihood of bank erosion creating a dike breach, due to climate change.

Making adaptation investments now will have major economy-wide benefits later. Every dollar that is invested in adapting and preparing for climate-related disasters can return as much as $13 to $15 in benefits.

“With increasing importance on protecting our environment and communities from climate change, investments in disaster mitigation is another step the federal government is taking to protect Canadians. With this announcement, we are working to mitigate climate issues that continue to impact the Fraser River and the Matsqui Dike by protecting this area from further erosion. We will continue to work with all levels of government to secure Canadians’ future, better protect homes, and create greater climate resilience.” – John Aldag, Member of Parliament for Cloverdale – Langley City

Contacts:

Megan Waddington
Constituency Assistant
Office of John Aldag, Member of Parliament
604-575-6595
john.aldag@parl.gc.ca

RNNR Committee, Oct. 23 (Pt 1)

I've had a lot of questions from constituents frustrated that the Sustainable Jobs Act is being held up by the Conservatives in committee. We are now entering the third week and it is STILL being filibustered by the Cons.

On Monday, October 23rd, I was disappointed to see Conservative Members of the Natural Resources Committee filibuster our witnesses, some of whom who took their time to fly to Ottawa to testify. Our committee had been discussing Canada’s Clean Energy response to the US Inflation Reduction Act, with witnesses from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Climate Institute, the Net-Zero Advisory Body, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, Unifor Quebec, and the Canadian Labour Congress. I had some important questions I wanted to ask the Canadian Labour Congress and the Canadian Climate Institute, but I sadly never got the chance to speak due to the Conservative filibuster and antics.

I have one clip here that shows the motion the Conservatives moved, which had no relevance to the discussion at hand as its sole purpose was to disrupt Committee.

✔︎ Bill C-226, National Strategy Respecting Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice Act

Bill

Bill C-226, An Act respecting the development of a national strategy to assess, prevent and address environmental racism and to advance environmental justice

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

Our government supported a nearly identical version of the Bill in the last Parliament. Additionally, the bill provides adequate flexibility with respect to the development of a national strategy. Support for Bill S-226 demonstrates action on the commitment in the Minister of Environment and Climate Change’s mandate letter to introduce legislation requiring the development of an environmental justice strategy.

Passed.

Bill Status

At consideration in committee in the Senate

✔︎ Bill C-49 (Accord Acts Amendments)

Bill

Bill C-49, An Act to amend the Canada–Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act and the Canada–Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

These amendments build on our governments’ joint announcements in April 2022, to expand the mandate of the Offshore Boards to include the regulation of offshore renewable energy projects. Amending the Accord Acts and expanding the mandate of the existing Offshore Boards to include offshore renewable energy will ensure there is a clear, consistent and predictable regulatory regime in federal-provincial jointly managed offshore areas. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting Canada’s clean energy sector by working with provincial partners like Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador on these amendments to create new clean energy opportunities, strengthen the economy and better protect Canada’s environment for the future.

Passed.

Bill Status

At consideration in committee in the House of Commons

Questions to Suncor CEO

Thank you Suncor CEO Richard Kruger for speaking with the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and answering my questions about Canada's ongoing work to reduce Green House Gas emissions and the impacts of the oil and gas sector on climate change.

Open Letter: Correcting the Conservative narrative on BC’s carbon price

In recent weeks, the leader of the Conservative Party has toured British Columbia, claiming that should he ever be Prime Minister, he will “Axe the Tax” on carbon pricing.

But he must know that BC runs its own carbon price that predates the federal version by more than a decade.

BC’s price on pollution has been in place since 2008. That’s almost as long as Mr. Poilievre has been collecting a public paycheque as a Member of Parliament.

If the BC provincial government’s carbon pricing plan has been in place for fifteen years, how exactly does Mr. Poilievre intend to “Axe the Tax” in BC?

It’s easy: he doesn’t.

Mr. Poilievre is blatantly spreading misinformation about the carbon pollution price to British Columbians. As Prime Minister, he would have no power to tell BC to eliminate its carbon pricing plan. If the Conservative Leader is implying that he can tell BC’s Premier what to do and to cancel the carbon price, he should explain in detail how he plans to accomplish this.

The climate crisis is a serious reality we’re facing. We just witnessed the most dangerous wildfire season on record, which is being fueled by climate change. Mr. Poilievre has been the leader of the Conservative Party for over a year and still has not put forward a climate plan. In a summer when BC has lost 2.48 million hectares of forests, homes, and communities, his lack of action disrespects the plight of British Columbians.

John Aldag
Member of Parliament for Cloverdale-Langley City

Contacts:

Megan Waddington

Constituency Assistant

Office of John Aldag, Member of Parliament

john.aldag@parl.gc.ca