NDP reintroduces Jack Layton’s climate change bill

Today, Matthew Kellway (Beaches-East York) introduced the Climate Change Accountability Act, an updated version of Jack Layton’s bill.

Seconded by NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, the bill will require the government to establish a plan to avoid catastrophic climate change and meet the science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gases to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.

The bill was first introduced by Jack Layton in 2007, and was passed by the House of Commons in 2008, only to die when Stephen Harper called an unexpected election. It was reintroduced and passed a second time by the House in the next Parliament, only to be defeated by the unelected, Conservative-dominated Senate with no study or debate. It was the first time in 75 years that the Senate voted to defeat legislation duly adopted by the House of Commons.

“Taking action on climate change is not an option, it’s a necessity. It’s something that New Democrats know we need to do” said Kellway “I’m proud to join Tom in taking up Jack’s cause, and continuing his fight for a greener, more prosperous Canada.”

“Jack’s bill was designed to hold the government accountable on climate change,” said Mulcair. “We in the NDP won’t give up our principles. We’re continuing the work Jack started, and ensuring that when Canada shows up at global climate change negotiations in 2015 – we won’t be empty handed. The NDP, like Canadians, actually get it.”