Toronto Danforth - Survey Responses

GREEN PARTY:

Our energy program is multifaceted and does not focus on one aspect individually, but instead looks at the need for energy efficiency, conservation, diversification and decentralization. Essentially, we will ensure Canada's energy security by easing off oil and instead concentrate on non-polluting, job creating industries that will make Canadian energy production one of the cleanest and most sustainable in the world.

Energy efficiency is a central part of our vision for a greener, more secure Canada. The Green Party will improve energy efficiency in Canada by ensuring that all appliances sold in Canada will meet or exceed the Energy Star rating by 2015. Non-rated appliances will be eliminated from the market by 2010 along with energy wasting light bulbs that can be replaced with longer lasting and more efficient halogen bulbs.

Our buildings must also become more efficient. Today, buildings account for as much as 33% of Canada's GHG emissions when heat and power are combined. A Green government will set a goal to retrofit 100% of Canada's buildings to a high level of energy efficiency by 2025. We will promote building efficiency by giving refundable tax credits for all energy retrofit costs; by providing tax-deductible Green Mortgages which will allow homeowners and business to invest in their buildings; and by establishing a national program to retrofit public sector buildings such as universities, schools, museums and hospitals. Improving the efficiency of how Canadians live will allow us to use less energy, making Canada a more energy secured country.

The Green Party firmly believes that we must concentrate our resources towards the development of new and substantial renewable energy sources. The Green Party would work to replace all the coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power plants with renewable sources by 2040. By making substantial investments in wind, solar, tidal/wave and other technologies we can ease off our dependence on foreign oil and develop a truly Canadian approach to energy development. Producing energy using renewable sources would be good for our economy, our energy security and our environment because we would be tapping into renewable resources commonly available throughout our country.

The Green Party would achieve these goals and advance Canada's capacity for renewable energy sources through substantially increased funding for research and development into ocean energy technologies and the storage of energy generated through renewable sources. We will meet our energy demands through innovation and diversification, not through dependence on a non-renewable resource that is high polluting and unsustainable in the long term.

We would look to decentralize our energy production so that events such as the 2003 blackout would not threaten the lives and security of Canadians. By relying on various types of energy coming from all parts of the country and from various sources, we would know that if something fails in one region or with one type of generator the entire country or region would not be affected. This provides Canadians with an enhanced degree of energy security and diminishes our dependence for oil.

When it comes to our infrastructure deficit, we need to invest in the critical infrastructure of transport and water works to modernize and reduce energy demand. The Green Party Government will continue the gas tax commitment as envisioned by the previous government to allow for stable and predictable funding. As well the Green Party Government will liberate billions of dollars a year through RRSP deductions for municipal bonds.

Municipalities need stable and predictable funding so that they can invest in critical infrastructure such as mass transit, sewage treatment, energy efficiency improvements, better water systems to reduce waste and cope with erratic precipitation patterns of a changing global climate, as well as community amenities like sports fields, arts and cultural opportunities.

The Green Party will create a new pool of municipal infrastructure funding by changing tax rules to create a Municipal Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) bond that can be held in RRSPs and self-directed RRSPs. In February 2006 alone, Canadians bought $8 billion in mutual funds. Imagine if even half of that was available to our communities.

This would be in addition to allocating an additional portion of the federal gasoline tax directly to the provinces for transfer to municipalities. The Green Party supports the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Large Cities Caucus request for a commitment of one cent from GST as a reasonable approach to stable financing. This is made possible through carbon tax revenue. Municipal governments must enter into agreements to ensure that sprawl is not permitted through extensive infrastructure funding. Densification, speedy, safe and pleasant mass transit, safe cycling paths and other investments to conserve electricity and water will all merit stable GST-sourced financing.

The Green Party has put forward a progressive and ambitious plan to help Canada move forward in energy production. A Green government will make Canada a much more self-reliant nation that can meet its own energy needs without the significant importation of foreign supplies. This will not only help secure our energy needs but will provide thousands of new jobs and create a cleaner and healthier environment in which we can all live.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me at 416-273-8245 or sharon@danforthgreens.ca

Sharon Howarth, Green Party Candidate, Toronto-Danforth

New Democratic Party - NDP


We need to unite the country behind a strategy for Canada’s long-term energy
security. A crucial part of reducing pollution and fighting global warming must be
substantial new investments in renewable energy solutions. Jack Layton’s New
Democrats will implement a comprehensive New Energy Economy Strategy,
developed through consultation and a cooperative effort of all stakeholders from
coast to coast to coast.

We must plan now for a future where our energy consumption is drastically reduced
and where all our energy comes from renewable sources. We need to make sure that
our energy policies put the needs of Canadians first.

As Prime Minister, Jack Layton will make Canadian energy security and
environmental standards priorities in trade negotiations, including putting energy
front and centre in any new trade negotiations with the United States. A New
Democrat Government will renegotiate NAFTA’s Chapter 6, which unreasonably limits
Canadian sovereignty over its energy resources and may prevent Canadian energy
security.

We will introduce new financial incentives for clean power, including from solar, wind,
water, biomass and other renewable sources for electricity production and from
industrial co-generation and small-scale, sustainable community facilities.

We will also establish the Canadian Renewable Energy Agency. The agency will be
responsible for encouraging and developing renewable energy in Canada. It will:
 Work cooperatively with all stakeholders towards meeting 35 percent of
Canada’s energy needs with renewable energy by 2020, including hard
targets for renewable fuels, biomass, wind power and other renewables.
 Provide funding for developing and supporting renewable energy
programs.

Jack Layton will stop the massive tax breaks and subsidies to the tar sands, big oil
and gas companies, and nuclear power and halt any new tar sands development until
carbon emissions are capped, significant environmental and health impacts are
addressed, and protected areas are set aside.
 We will improve and enforce appropriate federal regulation of all
environmental impacts – air, water, land, fish and wildlife – that arise
from the exploitation of Canada’s oil and gas reserves.
 Because the need for oil and gas will not disappear overnight, we will
discourage bulk exports of our unprocessed resources to the US and
China, and encourage responsible upgrading, refining and petro-chemical
manufacturing here in Canada. This will keep the economic benefits and
jobs in Canada and temper the unchecked exploitation of our resources.
Canada’s New Democrats will remove bureaucratic barriers to the development,
manufacture, and licensing of zero emission vehicles in Canada and increase support
for rail transport – including developing high-speed trains in urban corridors such as
Edmonton-Calgary and Windsor-Quebec City.

Finally, we will begin a discussion with the provinces and territories for an East-West
Renewable Energy Grid. This nation-building and climate action exercise needs
federal financial support and leadership to assist provinces in building the renewable
energy infrastructure that will transition Canada away from high pollution and nonrenewable
energy.

We encourage you to find out more by consulting Canada’s New Democrats’ plan for
energy and the environment that will really work at:
www.ndp.ca/platform/environment