Our MPs aren’t on summer holidays. They’re busy making plans for the economic recovery from COVID-19. But will they listen to the voices of climate strikers? Black Lives Matter? Indigenous communities on the frontlines?
Now is the time to build a powerful people-powered response that brings us together, provides care for our communities, restores nature and reshapes what is politically possible. Climate justice means acting on the climate crisis in a way that builds equity and respects everyone’s human rights.
How can we make this happen? You can help build political pressure and power by targeting key liberal MPs on their social media channels and holding them accountable: they need to speak out and commit to work on a green and #JustRecovery.
And it’s working! 5 MPs have already spoken out. It also worked earlier this year when you mobilized — and won! — against the Teck Frontier tar sands mine project. Keep the pressure going!
A better world is possible. Join the movement for a green and #JustRecovery now. Pressure these MPs today!
Terry Beech (Burnaby North-Seymour)
Right in the middle of Terry Beech’s riding, Burnaby North Seymour, sits at the endpoint of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion pipeline. Although Terry was one of only two Liberal MPs to vote against the pipeline, he later defended the Liberals’ decision to buy it — despite the lack of Indigenous consent and his own statements supporting reconciliation. It’s time for Terry Beach to be a true advocate for Indigenous rights and to act on his speech in Parliament last year, given while carrying his baby daughter Nova on his chest, warning about the dangers climate change poses to her future: “We are running out of time.” Tell Terry to remember what he cares for and to publicly speak up for a #JustRecovery!
Sample tweet
Fill out the survey
You can also make your voice heard by answering this survey “What are your top issues?” on Terry Beech’s website http://terrybeechmp.ca/what-are-your-top-issues/. Don’t forget to comment and ask him to commit to work on a green and just recovery. You can send Greenpeace Canada policies recommendations by sharing this link.
Facebook & Instagram comment or story:
M.Beech, in 2017, you voted against the TMX pipeline expansion. In 2019, you spoke out for a climate emergency debate. Today, you must show political ambition by taking a clear position in favour of a green and #JustRecovery that puts people and nature first. https://act.gp/39hoiP8 @greenpeacecanada
Call script: (constituency office phone number: 604-718-8870)
“Hello Mr. Beech, I’m asking you today to take a clear position in favour of a green and just recovery that puts people and nature first. In 2017, you voted against the #TMX expansion. In 2019, you spoke out for a #ClimateEmergency debate. Now you need to commit to build back better as we recover from the COVID-19 crisis. Thank you”
Sample email ([email protected])
Hi Mr. Beech, I want to thank you for your work in these difficult times. I want to tell you that I don’t want us to go back to a ‘normal’ defined by a system which creates rampant inequalities based and on a model of infinite exploitation and destruction of nature.
The time has come to rebuild our future, I hope you can keep being a leader. The recovery from COVID-19 must make our society more resilient, fair and sustainable. I urge you to speak out in favour of a green and just recovery with your fellow Parliamentarians and the media.
I look forward to working with you and our community to build this better world.
Sincerely,
Your name.
Mark Gerretsen (Kingston and the Islands)
Mark Gerretsen was elected as the MP for Kingston and the Islands in 2015. He was previously the Mayor of Kingston, where he helped launch Sustainable Kingston. He has called climate change “the most pressing challenge that we face in the 21st century” and he opposed his own party’s position on the Trans Mountain Expansion pipeline, voting against the pipeline by the Trudeau government. While Mark has called for an end to systemic racism, said he would fight for affordable housing, and promoted social infrastructure, gaps remain, such as avoiding truly owning up the Liberals’ failures to ensure justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women. Let’s challenge him to also speak up now for a #JustRecovery!
Sample tweet
Facebook & Instagram comment or story:
Mr. Gerretsen, you called climate change “the most pressing challenge that we face in the 21st century”. You also opposed your own party’s position on the Kinder Morgan pipeline by voting against the purchase of the TMX pipeline by the Trudeau government. Today, I’m asking you to take a clear position in favour of a green and #JustRecovery that puts people and nature first>>hhttps://act.gp/2BimLvK @greenpeacecanada
Call script: (constituency office phone number: 613-542-3243)
“Hello Mr. Gerretsen, I’m asking you to take a clear position in favour of a green and #JustRecovery that puts people and nature first. You called climate change “the most pressing challenge that we face in the 21st century”. You also opposed your own party’s position on the Kinder Morgan pipeline by voting against the purchase of the TMX pipeline by the Trudeau government. Now you need to commit to build back better as we recover from the COVID-19 crisis. Thank you.”
Sample email ([email protected])
Hi Mr. Gerretsen, I want to thank you for your work in these difficult times. I want to tell you that I don’t want us to go back to a ‘normal’ defined by a system which creates rampant inequalities based and on a model of infinite exploitation and destruction of nature.
Now that the time has come to rebuild our future, I hope you can keep being a leader in this. The recovery from COVID-19 must make our society more resilient, fair and sustainable. I urge you to speak out in favour of a green and just recovery with your fellow Parliamentarians and the media.
I look forward to working with you and our community to build this better world.
Sincerely,
Your name.
Sean Fraser (Central Nova, Nova Scotia)
Sean Fraser was elected to represent the Nova Scotia riding of Central Nova in 2015. A lawyer by training, he was previously a Research Fellow with the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law. Sean campaigned on a more just future with the Liberals last year and has said he wants to strengthen health care and eradicate poverty and homelessness. To achieve these ambitions he’ll need to do more. As the current Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, he has a responsibility to bring these concerns to the Minister’s attention and ensure they are properly funded. Let’s challenge him to speak up now for a #JustRecovery!
Sample tweet
Facebook & Instagram comment or post on a story:
Mr. Fraser, bring your background in sustainability to your role in shaping Finance’s response to the #COVID19 crisis & to #ClimateChange. Today, I’m asking you to take a clear position in favour of a green and #JustRecovery, that puts people and nature first: https://act.gp/3fPTIi7 @greenpeacecanada
Call script: (constituency office phone number: 902-867-2919)
“Hello Mr. Fraser, I’m asking you today to take a clear position in favour of a green and just recovery that puts people and nature first.Your position as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance can influence the government response to the COVID-19 crisis climate change. Thank you”
Sample email ([email protected])
Hi Mr. Fraser, I want to thank you for your work in these difficult times. I want to tell you that I don’t want us to go back to a ‘normal’ defined by a system which creates rampant inequalities based and on a model of infinite exploitation and destruction of nature.
Now that the time has come to rebuild our future, I hope you can keep on being a leader. The recovery from COVID-19 must make our society more resilient, fair and sustainable. I urge you to speak out in favour of a green and just recovery with your fellow Parliamentarians and the media.
I look forward to working with you and our community to build this better world.
Sincerely,
Your name.
—
Discussion
Please take a clear position for just and ecological decisions re the planet, the climate , nature conservation and the health of all human beings for now and generations ahead.
There are many issues regarding better care of our environment & reduction of global warmingwhich seem to be ignored, or little done about them. I am very concerned re Vista Coal mine in AB, not only contributing to Increase in coal use thru the world, it I'd being run by a US CORP.; also oil/gas in arctic. Gov't funds should be directed to manufacturing renewable components & to constructing renewable energy production installations during interim between use of oil/gas & renewa me energy. Such would provide $$ for economy & jobs. Water should be kept as a human right instead of a com modity to name a few issues which Canada must deal wisely & strongly with. Francis Lavigne, Fort St. John, BC(
Now is the time
While it's understandable that the government has to dedicate major efforts to deal with the health and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, it can't lose sight of the fact that climate change is the most pressing challenge of the 21st century. Global fossil fuel burning broke a record in 2019 and Canada was in the top 1% causing the problem. The federal government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been walking back its previous commitment for a green stimulus in rebuilding the economy. It appears to be caving in to the hard lobbying of industry that has organized at least 400 communications with government officials to undercut the government's promise for transformative progress on climate change regulation. Climate change is the most pressing challenge we face in the 21st century. If the government doesn't recommit to strong environmental standards as it rebuilds the economy, the future for our children is doomed. The recent ethical scandal related to WE Charity decreases support for the federal government. It's the 3rd ethical scandal related to Trudeau resulting in decreasing support for the federal government. If the government doesn't recommit to serious efforts to deal with the climate change emergency, support will be further eroded. Carbon taxes aren't enough to meet the current and future climate challenges. The time for clear action is NOW.
Let’s get with the program people and let’s get on with it! Dragging our feet here not only reflects poorly on us as a nation but it ‘punishes’ our children and future generations.
Please grab the current opportunity by its horns and work for changes that will make Canada and the planet more ecologically, economically sustainable and resilient while keeping us all healthier! Thank you!
I took note that Maryam Monsef a Cabinet Minister, no less, is do nothing and do less.
The evidence of human destructive encroachment on our natural word has been overwhelmingly evident for the past fifty years and more. And yet all countries of the so called developed world respond only with weak willed effort in the form of conservation talk, study exposés and projections as to what must be done but continue to pollute unabatedly every passing year. Our planet's biosphere is inexorably dying more and more every passing day with extinction of species by the hundreds. Have we now admitted defeat? All the evidence suggests we have.
A just recovery is the only way forward, as you liberals have indicated. Please, act on it!!
Given that the we have hurt our dear Planet to the extreme, burning forests or clear-cutting the trees, wasting lumber to the extremes, polluting our oceans and causing unnecessary pain to plants, animals, birds and fish, it is no wonder so many humans are dying unnecessarily, or suffering with hitherto unknown and unheard of human-made and caused diseases, which is also putting so many thousand people out of jobs, economic crisis world wide etc., is it not time for re-thinking about so-called progress and think more seriously about a better way to do things. This is our chance and please think about "Green Recovery and Green, Healthy Development".
I'm living in New Zealand right now, and the Union I'm in has just started a really awesome campaign to create a just system to support people living in poverty, whether it be cause by CoViD 19 or otherwise. I thought I would share it. There has been a lot of talk about a universal basic income lately, but this campaign goes even better. The purpose of the campaign is to promote Universal Basic Services (not the same as Universal Basic Income). The explanation I gave of the difference is: -With UBI, the government gives people money in the form of an increased benefit. This results in e.g. the landlords raising rents for everyone, because people have more money. Poor people end up no better off, and taxpayer money just gets funneled into the pockets of the already wealthy (or at least those comfortable enough to own more than one house). The result is poorer governments and a greater concentration of wealth with the already-wealthy. -with UBS, the government focuses instead on what people need, rather than money. E.g. They build houses so that everyone has a house they can live in. Renters pay what they can for that housing, but it is within their means (if they can only afford a dollar a week, they only pay a dollar a week). This also means that for those of us who have incomes and don’t need social housing, our rents don’t go up along with everyone else’s, because the rents are stable. With UBS, it’s not just housing, or just food, it’s everything a person needs as basics. This means they are also promoting universal basic healthcare (if it’s medically necessary, poor people don’t pay for it, including dental and mental health), universal basic education (so we’re all on the same footing with the same opportunities), universal basic childcare/elder care/disability care, universal basic internet (so you can apply for jobs without having an income to pay for internet), universal basic transportation (free public transit so you can get to the job interview, or the job, if you are poor), etc. -The launch also included a Zoom talk by a researcher in the UK who had studied the different methods listed above, and he said the findings were pretty much as summed up above. If governments gave people just money, associated costs went up, the poor remained trapped in poverty, and government spent a lot more money for less effect. If governments created services, it leveled the playing field a lot more, and everyone benefited (except perhaps the very wealthy). He gave the example of the US healthcare system, which costs Americans more than any other health system in the world (e.g. the UK’s NHS, or Canada’s Medicare), and also has a larger carbon footprint than any other health system in the world. The universal healthcare systems where governments provide the service, rather than providing people money to pay a private system are also greener, with a smaller carbon footprint than the private systems. I think this model would be a good part of a just, Green recovery.