Ktunaxa Nation Council Chair Kathryn Teneese has been named to the provincial Climate Solutions and Clean Growth Advisory Council.

The new advisory council introduced today by Environment and Climate Change Strategy Minister George Heyman will provide strategic advice to government on areas of focus for climate action that go hand in hand with economic growth, stated a Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy news release.

“I am thrilled with the new advisory council and look forward to receiving their input as we get B.C. on track to hitting our climate targets, maximizing related job opportunities, and protecting our province for generations to come,” said Heyman.

The Climate Solutions and Clean Growth Advisory Council’s work will inform a new climate strategy for B.C. that fights climate pollution and helps families come out ahead.

The advisory council will provide advice to government on actions and policies that can contribute to carbon pollution reductions and optimize opportunities for sustainable economic development and job creation. This includes working with industry and the federal government to address the competitiveness of emissions-intensive trade-exposed sectors, to help them reduce their emissions and continue to thrive economically.

The panel will convene as soon as possible, and afterward, will meet quarterly. Advice and feedback on climate policy will be forwarded to the ministry’s Climate Action Secretariat and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy on a regular basis, the press release outlined.

The co-chairs of the Climate Solutions and Clean Growth Advisory Council are Marcia Smith, senior vice-president of Sustainability and External Affairs with Teck Resources Limited and Merran Smith, executive director of Clean Energy Canada.

“We all have a role to play in tackling the global challenge of climate change. I look forward to working with Minister Heyman and my fellow panel members as we seek constructive and collaborative solutions to advance climate action while ensuring that our economy is competitive,” Marcia Smith said.

“I look forward to co-chairing this council on climate solutions and clean growth. Those two priorities must go hand in hand for the government to succeed in cutting carbon pollution while making our province more affordable, competitive and prosperous. Our council’s mandate to provide not just advice, but accountability, is critical to turn good ideas into lasting results,” added Merran Smith.

Council Members:

Taylor Bachrach, mayor, Town of Smithers;
Dave Collyer, past president & chief executive officer, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers;
Matt Horne, climate policy manager, City of Vancouver;
Lee Loftus, past president, BC and Yukon Territory Building and Construction Trades Council;
Gavin McGarrigle, BC Area director, Unifor;
Michelle Molnar, environmental economist, David Suzuki Foundation;
Nancy Olewiler, professor, school of public policy, Simon Fraser University;
Josie Osborne, mayor, District of Tofino;
DJ Pohl, president, Fraser Valley Labour Council;
Gordon Planes, Chief, T’Sou-ke Nation;
Judith Sayers, adjunct professor, University of Victoria;
Sybil Seitzinger, executive director, Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, University of Victoria;
Aaron Sumexheltza, Chief, Lower Nicola Indian Band;
Karen Tam Wu, acting director, Pembina Institute;
Kathryn Teneese, Chair, Ktunaxa Nation Council;
Jill Tipping, president and chief executive officer, BC Tech Association;
Tesicca Truong, co-founder and co-director, CityHive;
Susan Yurkovich, president and chief executive officer, Council of Forest Industries.

British Columbia Government (ex-officio members): Bobbi Plecas, deputy minister, Climate Change, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy and Susanna Laaksonen-Craig, assistant deputy minister, Climate Action Secretariat.

Biographies of Climate Solutions and Clean Growth Advisory Council members can be viewed online.

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