OP/ED: MP lauds climate change bill
By Alex Atamanenko
The Federal NDP’s Climate Change Accountability Act (Bill C-311), which will commit the federal government to achieving practical, science-based greenhouse-gas reduction targets, moved one step closer to becoming law yesterday.
“It was great to see a majority of the members come together to get this passed,” said New Democrat MP Bruce Hyer (Thunder Bay–Superior North), who introduced the bill. “Now just one more debate and one more vote and Canada will finally be on its way to having clear regulations and frameworks for fighting climate change.”
C-311 is the country’s only federal climate-change bill and will make the government accountable to Canadians for action on climate change through regular reporting on measures to achieve firm targets. The bill passed by a vote of 155 to 137 after thousands of Canadians contacted their Members of Parliament to voice their support for the bill.
“At a time when Canada badly needs clear and decisive leadership on the climate crisis, this historic piece of legislation is now one step closer to becoming law,” said New Democrat Leader Jack Layton. “Canadians have said loud and clear that they want us to be world leaders in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, and this bill would help make that a reality.”
“This has been a long time coming,” said Alex Atamanenko, MP for BC Southern Interior. “Many constituents have voiced their concerns around the failure of this government to act on climate change legislation. I encourage Canadians to keep the pressure up on all federal Parties, to ensure passage of this bill at the third and final reading. Enough time has been wasted already and the climate clock is ticking.”
C-311 was modelled on Bill C-377, which was introduced by New Democrat Leader Jack Layton in 2007. This bill was passed by the House of Commons in 2008 with the support of the Liberals and the Bloc, but died in the Senate when the election was called.
“It is my understanding that the final vote in the House of Commons will take place within the next few weeks,” added Atamanenko.
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