Who are the 130,000 students and 14,000 Quebec workers who went on Friday strike for the climate and the thousands who took part in the march in a dozen Quebec cities likely to vote?
If they have analyzed the commitments of the different parties and if protecting the environment and the future of their children is really their priority, I think their first choice will be Québec solidaire (QS), their second the Parti Québécois ( PQ), their third, the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ) and the fourth, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ).
As for the Conservative Party (PC), the election of Éric Duhaime would be a clear anti-environment vote as he supports the expansion of extremely polluting industries and ‘all by car’.
Respond to the emergency
QS and PQ not only have the most ambitious environmental goals, but above all they have modeled their climate plans with independent experts. They propose a regulatory and fiscal framework and concrete measures that benefit well-being and health. Not just the environment.
If QS has a head start over PQ, it’s because it’s more realistic given the climate emergency. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the polluter pays principle must be applied seriously and now.
Let’s dare to tell the “real deal” and look at the numbers. Goodwill is not enough. It would be to believe in a wonderland.
In Quebec, greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by almost 2.7% since 1990. Despite our hydropower, each of us produces at least twice as much greenhouse gas as the world average.
Climate neutrality in 2050 cannot be achieved without major social changes. Not getting started right away is willful blindness.
Reduce our dependency on the car
In Quebec, transport is responsible for 43% of greenhouse gas emissions. The increase in sales of extremely polluted SUVs is the main reason for the increase in recent years.
It is therefore necessary to make these vehicles less attractive through taxation. In addition, QS offers opportunities to make the alternatives significantly more accessible. Proceeds from this green tax (and not orange!) would be used to fund greener decisions that we desperately need.
The application of this bonus penalty is not radical. Environmental taxes have proven their worth in Europe. That’s a really good idea!
Ecofiscality is a concrete way to internalize the environmental and social costs of pollution. They should be used much more to facilitate better decisions.
Walk the conversation
In fact, it’s up to governments to implement public policies that ensure the greenest choices are also the most economical, practical, and enjoyable for each of us.
The polls clearly show that people want the Quebec government to do more for the environment.
A primary focus on electrification, as proposed by the CAQ, is not enough. We expect a lot more than that from the next government if we really want to protect our children.
