Greenpeace Canada spokesperson Alex Speers-Roesch said:
“The elephant in the room was that amidst all the government’s promises on climate action and reconciliation, we just watched militarized RCMP invade the unceded, sovereign territory of the Wet’suwet’en nation and arrest their people for practicing Indigenous self-governance and upholding their laws. All to force the construction of a new fossil fuel pipeline.
Today’s Throne Speech contained welcome commitments around capping and reducing oil and gas sector emissions and funding public transit. But it stopped short of squarely acknowledging the urgent need, in the face of the climate crisis, to rapidly phase out fossil fuels. B.C. is still reeling from catastrophic flooding linked to climate change, and things will only get worse until emissions go to zero. The government must move swiftly to implement its existing climate commitments and take additional steps to achieve a green and just recovery from COVID-19.
It’s no accident Canada has missed every emissions target to date. That’s the influence of the fossil fuel industry on our politics. The only way Canada is going to finally bring down emissions and achieve reconciliation is if politicians stop listening to oil and gas companies and start listening to Indigenous people, scientists, and the climate-concerned public.”
The Speech from the Throne opens every new session of Parliament. The Speech introduces the government’s direction and goals, and outlines how it will work to achieve them.
On November 23, 2021, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, delivered the Speech from the Throne to open the first session of the 44th Parliament and outline the government’s agenda.
Marie-Christine Fiset
Marie-Christine is the Head of Media with Greenpeace Canada. Based in the Montreal office, she racks her brain every day to publicize Greenpeace’s campaigns, but above all to make as many people as possible aware of the importance of protecting our environment. Passionate about words, books, snack time, chai tea and yoga, she also aspires one day to play a musical instrument … any really! Feel free to follow her on Twitter @MarieCFiset
mfiset@greenpeace.org; +1 514 972-6316
