More climate action coming

Photo: The Canadian Press

Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna

The Liberal government's carbon levy won't be the only climate policy move announced this fall, says the federal environment minister.

Catherine McKenna says more federal measures will be rolled out before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sits down with the premiers in Ottawa on Dec. 8 to hammer out a full pan-Canadian climate blueprint.

"The intention is to put some of our plans out through the fall in the lead-up to the first ministers' meeting," McKenna said Thursday following a speech to the Canadian Climate Forum conference.

"Whether it's through creating incentives for Canadians to have more energy-efficient homes or on the electric vehicle side, I think there's some real opportunities to not only tackle climate change but to grow our economy. So you have to stay tuned."

Trudeau upset some provinces early this month when he announced in the House of Commons that, for provinces that haven't already priced carbon, an escalating federal floor price would be imposed on emissions in 2018. The carbon tax will start at $10 per tonne and rise $10 annually to $50 per tonne in 2023.

McKenna told the climate forum the carbon "levy," as she termed it, sends a strong and welcome signal of certainty to the markets.

And she telegraphed other policy measures that are in the wings.

"In Canada, we must accelerate the adoption of EVs (electric vehicles) in our cities by creating networks, charging stations and supporting new infrastructure," she said.

Citizens also want more energy efficient buildings and homes, she added, citing both an update of the building code and renewed subsidies for retrofitting older buildings.

Federal sources have told The Canadian Press that greening government operations, including procurement, is in the works, as are federal funds for mitigation measures to help communities adapt to a changing climate.

Infrastructure funding for public transit projects will also be rolled out this fall.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau announced Wednesday the government's fall economic update is coming Nov. 1 — and he confirmed the annual accounting update on the country's finances will include new policy initiatives.

The Liberal policy signals came on the same day the privately funded Clean Energy Canada issued a report and public opinion survey promoting a series of climate policies, including 62 per cent survey support for establishing a minimum price on carbon.

The telephone poll of 1,000 respondents Sept. 24-27 found that 73 per cent of respondents supported or somewhat supported stopping the burning of coal for electricity by 2030.