Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson Discusses Net-zero Emissions Act

Environment and Sustainable Development: May 17, 2021:

Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson appears before the committee to discuss Bill C-12, the Canadian net-zero emissions accountability act.

Green MP Elizabeth May calls the legislation a "disappointment" and criticizes Environment and Climate Change Canada for failing to consider climate accountability legislation from other countries.

Wilkinson, however, insists that after the government examined international equivalents to its bill, proposing legislation that "fits best within the Canadian context" seemed most appropriate.

The bill codifies the Liberal government's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions in Canada by 2050 and creates a clear accountability and transparency regime. It also gives power to the environment commissioner to regularly audit the government's progress on implementing the climate change mitigation measures.

Also appearing are Dr. Claudel Pétrin-Desrosiers and Christie Mcleod (Association québécoise de médecins pour l'environnement), Dr. Courtney Howard (Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment), Fawn Jackson and Reynold Bergen (Canadian Cattlemen's Association), Samuel Millar( Department of Finance), John Moffet and Douglas Nevison (Department of the Environment), Alan Andrews (Ecojustice), Andrew Gage (West Coast Environmental Law Association).