Federal government pressed on climate policy modelling
Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin faced tough questioning Thursday on whether the government has evidence its rollbacks aren't harming emissions targets.
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The federal government is facing increased pressure to show how its recent climate policy changes will affect Canada's greenhouse gas emissions.
Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin was questioned Thursday at a parliamentary committee hearing by Bloc Québécois MP Patrick Bonin, who asked whether the government has modelling to demonstrate it's advancing on climate change rather than backtracking. Dabrusin pointed to methane regulations published in December and the national inventory report from April, though that report's figures predate the Carney government's policy decisions.
Environment Canada Deputy Minister Mollie Johnson acknowledged the department has "some work to do" on crunching numbers to determine the impact of recent policy changes. "We're working on right now putting that together so we can come forward and deliver a comprehensive modelling," Johnson told the committee.
A senior government official said part of the challenge is that policy announcements often lack the specifics needed for modelling — citing the electricity strategy unveiled earlier this month, which promised energy retrofits for up to one million households but without concrete details.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has faced accusations of backsliding on climate. He repealed the consumer carbon price on his first day in office and since then has repealed the EV sales mandate, opened the door to ending emissions caps on oil and gas, scrapped anti-greenwashing legislation, and expanded fossil fuel subsidies.