NDP leadership hopeful Mike Farnworth became the second candidate to release an environmental platform yesterday.
Farnworth's platform promises include:
- - Opening all existing IPP power purchasing agreements for public review, and a moratorium on all new IPPs.
- - A “no net-loss” policy for the Agricultural Land Reserve in each region and an enhance Buy BC program and BC Food First policy to support local food production.
- - The creation of a “blue belt” to protect wild salmon spawning and migration areas and a move to innovative closed containment aquaculture technology.
- - Repeal of the Significant Projects Streamlining Act that strips decision-making from local governments.
- - A shift of carbon tax revenue to transit and low-carbon green initiatives and inclusion of industrial emitters to pay the tax.
Last week NDP leadership candidate John Horgan released his environmental platform, which touched on many of the same topics. He also promised to continue lobbying for a federal moratorium on coastal tanker traffic and offshore oil and gas drilling.
Today, Horgan issued a press release promising to revive Buy BC, a local food labelling and marketing program which was promised in the Liberal's 2008 agriculture plan but has yet to be implemented. Liberal candidate George Abbott also promised to fund program if elected.
The Wilderness Committee supports the environmental platforms of both Farnworth and Hogan. "I thought they compared very favourably," said its policy director Gwen Barlee. "They're both comprehensive, they're talking about legislative changes, important movement on energy, retaining the carbon tax and moving on climate change in a significant way.
"They set a bar and we hope that other candidates will meet that bar. Because two weeks ago, discussion of the environment was missing in action, not only in the NDP leadership race but also definitely with the Liberal leadership race."
The NDP's environmental support suffered in the 2009 provincial election when then-leader Carole James took an anti-carbon tax position. That move alienated some environmental organizations that had traditionally been on side with NDP policies.
Barlee said she thinks these platforms will help heal that rift. "I think people are sort of saying 'show me the money'. They're looking for leadership on the environment, and I think the environmental community will act accordingly."
Colleen Kimmett reports for The Tyee.
7
Login or register to post comments
edoherty
1 year ago
With Falcon on Blacktop?
These platforms are vague, and avoid some obvious questions.
Maybe both of them could let us know if they are with Kevin Falcon in advocating a continuation of blacktop politics as usual - continuing to cook our planet in other words. Or would they shift some or all of the billions now going into urban roadway expansions such as the South Fraser to public transit?
politico
1 year ago
Its encouraging
to see a focus on policy.
Something absent in Dogwoods madhatter green caucus join the liberal party if you dont like tankers campaign.
metacomet
1 year ago
TILMA
Carbon tax? Big industrial polluters?
What about TILMA (thinkin' Alberta's tar sands.)
Buy BC? BC first procurement? Could reduce greenhouse gas from transporting goods. Yeah! Buy local!
What about TILMA? (thinkin' Alberta again.)
different drummer
1 year ago
Horgan best communicator
With environmental platforms that are "comparable," logically NDPers should choose a leader who can deliver the message & make it stick. I'm betting that Horgan is the guy who can best connect with voters on the NDP enviro platform. Plus, Horgan already has a solid record of championing many grassroots campaigns, thereby raising their profiles in the media - and that means a lot to us grassroots activists!
crh
1 year ago
edoherty
If you have more questions that cannot be answered in a limited media soundbite then just ask the candidate. They are approachable you know.
motorcycleguy
1 year ago
communicator
different drummer is on track....Horgan can hold his own in unscripted interviews or conversations...with people like Gwen Barlee holding him to his word and regular working folk like me(union or not)...and small businesses (including agriculture based), all getting on side. Farnworth is ok and is valuable, but Horgan more and more shows that bit more of an edge. That includes an edge over any of the Liberal hopefuls....the people just want someone trustworthy representing them in the world. Someone who actually has the smarts to do what they say, and strong enough to get the respect of multinationals without bending over. Did I mention trustworthy?
Stewart MacKenzie
1 year ago
New focus on Environment
We will have to see what really happens once the leader is chosen, but the fact is this contest has brought environment issues into the spotlight for the NDP. This represents a big change from the previous leader's tentative and tremulous positions, and a move towards respecting the intelligence and good work of party members who put together the "Sustainable BC" policies.
The real smarts and ability in this party is found amongst the grassroots community activists who give up thousands of hours of their own time to work for the NDP - not the tiny elite which has dominated recently. Any leader who gets this will be miles ahead of Sihota and co. in reuniting the party and ousting the Liars!
Apparently this will not be Dix, who is the darling of the old guard and has no environmental policies visible.