Seeking to promote discussion of the links between fighting climate change and fighting income inequality, NDP MPs Wayne Stetski (Kootenay—Columbia) and Peter Julian (New Westminster—Burnaby) will be in Cranbrook, Revelstoke and Nelson this week to consult with constituents and advocate for Julian’s Green New Deal legislation.

“The Green New Deal is the call for an ambitious government-led mobilization to make the investments necessary to stop climate change and profound income inequality,” said Julian. “By making public investments in renewable energy, housing retrofits and electric vehicles, we can drastically reduce our carbon emissions while creating well-paying, unionized jobs. The Green New Deal is about saving our planet, while making sure that Canadians, especially workers in carbon-heavy twilight industries, are given good job opportunities in our new green economy.”

Julian’s Green New Deal motion specifies that the Green New Deal will respect agreements, treaties and meaningful reconciliation with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people and must be developed in wide consultation and collaboration with civil society including labour unions, worker cooperatives, academia and businesses.

“The Green New Deal town hall meetings we’re organizing here in Kootenay—Columbia will encourage the residents of the riding to share their vision for what positive change could look like under a Green New Deal,” said Stetski. “We have a climate emergency in our country. Canadians are coping with forest fires, heat waves, massive storms and catastrophic climate events. It has never been more urgent that we transition to a low-carbon economy.”

“At the same time, we know we won’t solve the climate crisis without ensuring that everyday Canadians benefit from the public investments a low-carbon economy will require,” added Julian. “We must both combat climate change and make our economy fairer, ensuring that no one is left behind.”

In April of this year, Julian tabled a motion (M-232) in the House of Commons, calling on Parliamentarians to support a Canadian Green New Deal. It remains the first and only legislation before the House of Commons advocating for a Green New Deal. The motion is based on the resolution submitted in the US Congress by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York and Senator Ed Markey from Massachusetts. Lawmakers in countries around the world are currently looking into introducing similar legislation.

The public is invited to attend the following Green New Deal Town Hall meetings:

CRANBROOK
Monday, August 19
Cranbrook Public Library
1212 Second St. N.
6 to 8 p.m. (MDT)

REVELSTOKE
Tuesday, August 20
Revelstoke Library
605 Campbell Ave.
6 to 8 p.m. (PDT)

NELSON
Wednesday, August 21
Nelson United Church
602 Silica St.
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (PDT)

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