In just 14 weeks we will head to the polls to elect a new federal government.
Right now, election candidates are getting ready, raising money at endless barbeque meet-and-greets, and shoring up support in federal ridings across Canada.
The Council of Canadians is non-partisan – we won’t tell you who to vote for – but we will encourage you to be a part of the democratic process.
Pundits agree that the upcoming federal election will be a turning point in our country – it will clearly define our values and the kind of future we want.
You only need to turn on the radio or television, or open a newspaper to see the devastating global effects of climate change. The world’s leading scientists have been clear. We have only 11 years to make the crucial changes needed to avoid the tipping point in climate change.
That is why we need a federal government that is committed to acting swiftly to make the changes that are necessary to ensure a livable planet not just for you and I, but for our children and grandchildren. This future must include a Green New Deal.
This past June was the hottest month in recorded history. From Canada, to Europe, to India and beyond, the climate crisis is pushing us into uncharted heatwave territory.
While wildfires burn in the west, federal election candidates will be hosting barbecues and asking for your vote.
To date, Canada has never had a federal government with a climate plan capable of meeting science based climate targets. Collectively, millions of voters across the country will get to decide the outcome of this federal election. You will decide who will lead the climate future for our country.
That’s why we think it’s time to grill the parties, not the planet! Will you join us in taking action to turn up the heat on federal candidates to support a Green New Deal this election?
A Green New Deal calls for rapid, inclusive and far-reaching just transition led by the federal government, to slash greenhouse gas emissions, meet the demands of the multiple crises we face, respect the rights of Indigenous peoples, and create over 1 million jobs in the process. It is a proposal that is gaining in popularity among people and groups from all walks of life, especially young people who know their futures are at stake.
But this is about more than that. Right now, and in the coming weeks and months, regardless of which party ends up forming government, we can decide how much pressure whoever represents us will be under to act on the climate crisis.
We can decide our future with a Green New Deal. And we can win it by turning up the heat on all the parties this summer.
Will you join me and grill the parties about the Green New Deal before they grill the planet? Find a candidate barbecue near you.
You can print out one of these signs that has questions for candidates and bring it with you. Don’t forget to take a picture and send it to us! We will keep a photo gallery on our website showing how people like you are taking action for a Green New Deal from coast-to-coast-to-coast!
Can’t get to an upcoming candidate event? Find your local candidates and ask them to commit to climate justice and a Green New Deal.
Our house is on fire. Together, let’s make sure the federal election candidates feel the heat and act accordingly.
