Green Party of Canada Leader Elizabeth May launched the party’s 2019 election platform today – a bold vision for a just, prosperous and sustainable Canada arrived at through Honest, Ethical, Caring, Leadership.
The platform, which is being fully costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office, is not a conventional set of political promises. It presents a vision for Canada in 2030 firmly based on strong, progressive social and ecological policies that will make Canada a climate leader and drive the transition to the green innovation economy of the 21st century.
“We are in a climate emergency and politics-as-usual is leading us down a path we simply cannot survive,” said Ms. May. “The Green Party is proposing a course change, and we are ready to take the lead.”
On the climate emergency, Ms. May said: The Green Party’s climate action plan -- Mission: Possible recognises that our house is on fire. There’s no time left for incremental actions. We must act decisively and we must act now if we are to keep the global average temperature increase to no more than 1.5 degrees C. If we fail, we risk losing our hospitable biosphere making millions of species extinct, including our own.
“We must transition off fossil fuels and it must be a just and fair economic and social transition that ensures a safe and prosperous future for all Canadians.”
The climate crisis is the lens through which every policy envelope in the platform is viewed – the economy, health, education, foreign affairs, immigration, public safety, defence, social welfare, transportation. The policy framework is also designed to meet the linked challenges of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, climate stability, economic and social justice, and real democracy. It is grounded in science and expert analysis.
Ms. May stressed that First Nations, Métis and Inuit must be fully engaged in Canada’s decision-making. “A Green government will support all Indigenous Peoples’ efforts to emerge from the positions of disadvantage in which Canada has placed them. We believe that Canada cannot reach its full potential as a nation until true justice and reconciliation has been achieved."
A Green government will re-introduce legislation to enshrine the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in Canadian law and implement the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Greens will uphold and fulfill Canada’s responsibilities in all agreements with Indigenous Peoples.
Greens will guarantee universal pharmacare, dental coverage for low income Canadians, elimination of tuition and billions for post-secondary education, and the elimination of poverty through a Guaranteed Liveable income. Policies will address housing affordability, good governance, international relations and defence, immigration, arts, culture and media, fisheries policy, endangered species, water quality, ocean plastics, seniors, women’s health and food security.
“The decisions to be made by the next government of Canada will shape our future as a nation,” said Ms. May.“Will we hunker down to defend the status quo, leaving Canada behind as the world moves on? Or will we embrace the dual challenge of responding to the climate emergency and strengthening the social contract with all citizens? It’s time for real leadership.”
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