Category: Steven Guilbeault

Feds Spent at Least $1.77M on Climate Conference Trip to Egypt

The federal government spent at least $1.77 million to send a delegation to attend a United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt last November, according to information tabled in the House of Commons. The 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) was held in the resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh from Nov. 6 to to 20….


Ministers and Departments Spent Over $800,000 on Speechwriters

Federal departments and their ministers have spent over $800,000 to hire speechwriters in the past three years, according to information tabled in the House of Commons. The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations has been the highest spender for such services, with $142,439 in contracts since 2019. Environment and Climate Change Canada came in second at $134,139….


No ‘Accurate and Comprehensive’ Way to Assess Effectiveness of Single-Use Plastics Ban: Federal Report

There is currently no “accurate and comprehensive” way to gauge the impact of the federal ban on everyday plastic products on the environment, says a report by the Department of Environment and Climate Change. “Given data gaps in the current understanding of plastic waste, it is challenging to draw conclusions about the relative impact of…


Canada Has Made ‘Real Progress’ in Meeting UN Emissions Targets, Says Environment Minister

Canada has made “real progress” in meeting emissions reduction targets outlined by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault, while the Conservatives say the Liberal government has yet to meet any of its federal climate goals. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) submitted its fifth biennial “climate action progress report” on Dec….


Canada to Phase Out Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs Within the Year Due to Mercury Pollution: Report

Canada will phase out compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs)—once believed to be a green alternative to incandescent bulbs—within the year due to concerns of mercury pollution, says the federal Department of Environment. “Most lamps for general lighting purposes would be prohibited by January 1, 2024,” said the department, referring to compact fluorescent bulbs, in a “Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement,”…


Proposed Electric Vehicle Mandate Will Cost at Least $99 Billion: Environment Canada

A recently proposed federal mandate that would require all vehicles sold in Canada to be electric by the year 2035 will cost at least $99 billion, according to new government figures. “The proposed amendments are expected to lead to a loss of consumer choice as the non-zero emission vehicles which are preferred by some will…


Less Than 5 Percent of Newly Purchased Vehicles by Feds Were Electric: Records

Of nearly 3,000 newly purchased vehicles by Canada’s federal departments and agencies in the last two years, less than 5 percent were electric, records show. In a recently-tabled Inquiry of Ministry, the Liberal cabinet told Parliament that out of the 2,899 vehicles bought by federal departments and agencies in the past two years, 137 were…


Millions of Dollars in Federal Pollution Fines Sit Unused in Conservation Fund: Audit

Millions of dollars collected by the federal government through fines levied on big polluters have sat unused in a conservation fund intended to be used for environmental initiatives, a recent audit found. The Environmental Damages Fund (EDF), managed by Environment and Climate Change (ECCC) Minister Steven Guilbeault’s department, was established in 1995 to use funds from environmental fines for…


Enshrining COP15 Climate Targets in Legislation a ‘Next Step’ for Canada, Says Environment Minister

The federal government will look to enshrine in legislation certain “climate action” targets outlined at the U.N. Biodiversity Conference (COP15) held in Montreal, according to Climate Change and Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault, who called the future actions a “next step” for Canada. “I think the next step for many of our countries, including mine in Canada, is…


Canada’s Climate Policies Lead to Energy Insecurity: Think Tank

Canada’s current climate policies, outlined in a number of federal plans that have been introduced over the past several years, could cause future energy insecurity while increasing oil and gas prices, says a new paper. “Oil and gas are vital to our mutual security and our energy advantages should not be frittered away,” reads the…