Media

This week was a clear reminder of why I decided to run for office.

Back in 2008, I had the honour of working with then Premier Gordon Campbell, his Minister of Environment, the Honourable Barry Penner and the Climate Action Team to outline clear, bold and practical steps that we as a province could take to address global warming.

Together with government, academics, industry leaders, and First Nations, we developed a suite of policies that would allow us to reduce our carbon emissions while supporting strong economic growth. Six years later, British Columbia’s climate policies were still seen as leading the way in North America.

On Monday the Liberal government tabled a bill that threatens to undermine that success.

Bill 2: The Greenhouse Gas Industrial Reporting and Control Act would see British Columbia repeal legislation that would have enabled us to enter a cap and trade framework with our Pacific Coast climate action partners. In its place, we would adopt new legislation that would see us embrace what’s called an “emissions intensity” scheme along the lines of what Alberta and the Harper Tories have done.

Whereas a cap and trade framework would force us to reduce the total amount of carbon we emit into the atmosphere, an emissions intensity scheme would only require businesses to reduce the amount of carbon produced in liquefying a specified quantity of natural gas.

Here’s the problem: Our climate doesn’t care about emissions intensity. Our climate cares about the overall magnitude of emissions. If we increase the production of LNG, even if it is produced more and more efficiently, emissions are still going up. Ultimately, the climate only cares about the total amount of carbon pollution a facility would release and how much carbon pollution is in our atmosphere.

An emissions intensity scheme wouldn’t limit the overall carbon emissions. That’s why if you compare Alberta’s emissions to British Columbia’s, you will see that while British Columbia’s emissions decreased in the last few years, Alberta’s increased.

So why are we going down this path? Because the government knows that emissions are going to skyrocket if we develop our LNG industry. And an Alberta or Harper Government style emissions intensity model will provide the illusion of action on global warming at the same time as our overall magnitude of carbon emissions continue to increase. That’s all this is: The illusion of action.

The simple fact is, if we pass this bill, we may as well say goodbye to all of the progress we have made, for we will be stepping into a new era as one of the most polluting provinces in Canada.

As part of the debate on this Bill, I introduced an amendment that proposed that the Legislature delay debate on this Bill for 6 months. This would allow us as MLAs to put more time and thought  into this Bill, and to ensure that we have carefully thought through the consequences of losing our leadership in addressing global warming. My amendment was voted down 40 to 28, with the BC NDP voting in support of the amendment.

Here is a quick guide to my four main areas of critique for this piece of legislation.

1. The bill will see B.C. undermine its highly effective climate policies with an Alberta-style emissions intensity framework that has been shown to be ineffective at reducing net emissions. This is the same type of framework that was adopted federally by PM Stephen Harper’s Conservative Government, amidst significant criticism.
2. Under an emissions intensity framework, the magnitude of net carbon emissions can increase significantly despite the emissions intensity decreasing. Ultimately, the magnitude of net carbon emissions is the only thing that matters as far as global warming is concerned. This change is being made to allow for a dramatic increase in carbon emissions from the proposed LNG industry.
3. The bill would repeal the Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Cap and Trade) Act that was passed as enabling legislation to allow B.C. to enter into a regional cap and trade framework with other jurisdictions including California, Washington and Oregon. A cap and trade framework would allow B.C. to reduce the magnitude of net carbon emissions.
4. The bill would give cabinet the power to change the 0.16 emissions intensity limit through regulation without having to bring it back to the legislature for debate. This is the key point of the legislation that the government points to as evidence of their pledge to have the “cleanest LNG” in the world. The fact that “cleanest LNG” is not fixed in legislation, should raise significant concerns about the government’s commitment to this limit.

Please consider reading through the entire text of my speech  for a more detailed explanation of my opposition to Bill 2.

Media Statement: October 22, 2014

MLA Weaver Tables Amendment to LNG Emissions Act

For immediate release

Victoria, B.C. – The B.C. Government’s proposed Greenhouse Gas Industrial Reporting and Control Act (Bill 2) is a rushed piece of legislation that undermines our climate leadership and puts our ability to reduce future emissions at risk, says Andrew Weaver, MLA for Oak Bay – Gordon Head and Deputy Leader of the B.C. Green Party.

Today in the legislature, Andrew Weaver spoke to his concerns and submitted a hoist amendment that called for the bill to be delayed by 6 months to give MLAs and the public more time to scrutinize it.

The bill, which went into second reading today, would see British Columbia adopt an Alberta-style emissions intensity framework. This framework would allow overall emissions to increase in the Province, even as the Government would be taking credit for a reduction in the emissions intensity.

“Our climate cares very little for accounting tricks,” said Andrew weaver. “If we are going to take our responsibility to tackle climate change seriously, the only thing that truly matters is whether we are reducing the quantity of carbon emissions we are releasing. This bill won’t do that.”

Another major concern with the Bill is the apparent “blank-cheque” that it awards government. The legislation would effectively allow cabinet to re-write major sections of the legislation through regulations without the scrutiny of the House. British Columbians will not know many crucial details until well after Bill 2 is passed, and the Government will have avoided essential scrutiny that only the House can provide.

Finally, the bill would repeal the Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Cap and Trade) Act (2007) that was passed to enable a regional cap and trade framework with other jurisdictions including California, Oregon and Washington.

“It has become a political necessity for this government to land LNG, no matter what the cost is to British Columbians. With Bill 2, the cost may be our leadership in the fight on global warming,” said Andrew Weaver. “This Bill is asking us to choose between continuing forward with a singular focus on LNG, or taking seriously our responsibility to reduce this province’s Greenhouse gas emissions. Under this proposed legislation it will be impossible for us to have it both ways.”

Weaver’s amendment was voted down 28 to 40 with the BC NDP voting in support of the amendment.

-30-

Media Contact

Mat Wright – Press Secretary, Andrew Weaver MLA
Mat.Wright@leg.bc.ca
Cell: 1 250 216 3382

Media Statement: October 21, 2014
LNG Tax Regime a Generational Sellout

For immediate release

Victoria, B.C. – The B.C. Government’s proposed Liquefied Natural Gas Income Tax Act amounts to a generational sellout says Andrew Weaver, MLA for Oak Bay – Gordon Head and Deputy Leader of the B.C. Green Party.

The legislation, which was tabled today, outlines the structure of a new income tax that would apply to LNG producers. Under the current bill, the LNG income tax that was originally proposed back in February of this year was slashed from 7% to 3.5%.

“The LNG Income Tax amounts to a generational sell-out of our natural gas resources,” says Andrew Weaver. “The government is cutting taxes to the bare bone in a last ditch effort to land their hypothetical LNG industry. It is a high-risk gamble with low-returns.”

Under the proposed legislation, the LNG Income Tax would be effective as of January 1, 2017. Companies will initially pay 1.5% on their net operating income. Once net operating losses and capital investments are paid off, the LNG income tax rate will initially increase to 3.5% and then further increase to 5% as of 2037. The government is also offering LNG proponents a B.C. Corporate Income Tax Credit that will reduce that corporate income tax rate from 11% to 8%.

The Minister of Finance rolled back revenue expectations today claiming that under the new tax regime, it would likely take an additional ten to fifteen years beyond initial projections to eliminate the provincial debt.

In his response to the recent throne speech Andrew Weaver outlined a viable alternative vision for a diversified, 21st century economy based on strong existing industries and major up-and-coming sectors like the clean tech sector.

“Rather than gambling revenue expectations and election promises on a hypothetical LNG industry that won’t exist for years, we should instead invest in existing, up-and-coming industries like the cleantech sector that are proven to produce clear returns. Doing so would yield greater economic growth, far faster, while also helping to address the challenges of global warming.”

-30-

Media Contact

Mat Wright – Press Secretary, Andrew Weaver MLA

Mat.Wright@leg.bc.ca

Cell: 1 250 216 3382

Media Statement: October 20, 2014
LNG Emissions Legislation Shows Lack of Leadership
For immediate release

Victoria, B.C. – The introduction of the proposed Greenhouse Gas Industrial Reporting and Control Act is a clear signal that B.C. is losing its leadership in addressing global warming as it burdens the entire economy with the cost of its political promises around LNG, says Andrew Weaver, MLA for Oak Bay – Gordon Head and Deputy Leader of the B.C. Green Party.

“This bill is a complicated accounting game that attempts to pull wool over everyone’s eyes to make us think we are actually reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” says Andrew Weaver. “It is ill-considered, misleading and a clear signal that we are losing our leadership in addressing global warming.”

Of particular note, there are numerous pages in the legislation that essentially grant cabinet the power to decide what could be considered a carbon offset, irrespective of international standards.

“There are very clear international rules here and I cannot fathom why all these powers have been granted to cabinet unless the government wishes to make up new rules — like taking credit for China burning gas instead of coal,” notes Weaver.

Equally troubling is the repealing of the 2008 Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Cap and Trade) Act. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Cap and Trade) Act was specifically designed to allow British Columbia to join western states and provinces to create a larger jurisdiction in which to find the most economically efficient means of reducing greenhouse gases. California initiated its cap and trade program in 2012 and Québec recently joined. Washington and Oregon as well as several New England states have also expressed interest in participating.

“True leadership from government is not making our entire economy subservient to the demands of a single industry – especially one that doesn’t even exist yet,” says Andrew Weaver. “Instead of enslaving ourselves through reliance on hypothetical exports of a commodity that may or may not find a market elsewhere, we could, and should, show leadership in the development of a diversified, sustainable, 21^st century economy.

“We should be building upon the areas of our economy where we have already demonstrated the capacity for leadership, both in creating new opportunities for British Columbians and in taking real, honest steps to address the impacts of global warming.”

-30-

Media Contact

Mat Wright – Press Secretary, Andrew Weaver MLA
Mat.Wright@leg.bc.ca
Cell: 1 250 216 3382

Media Statement: October 9, 2014
Weaver introduces motion to amend Throne Speech
For immediate release

Victoria, B.C. – Andrew Weaver, MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head and Deputy Leader of the B.C. Green Party introduced a motion today to amend the Throne Speech, calling for a new vision to replace the Liberal government’s singular focus on a Liquefied Natural Gas windfall.

“The government is gambling our future on an LNG windfall when even the industry doesn’t think it will happen,” says Andrew Weaver. “They have put all our eggs in one basket and have no back-up plan for when it fails. That’s why I am calling for a new vision for British Columbia—one based on a diversified, sustainable, 21st century economy.”

Dr. Weaver’s call was given a renewed urgency this week when LNG frontrunner, Petronas, announced that it will not go forward with its LNG projects in B.C. if its strict demands are not met by the end of this month. Petronas’ threat reinforces the conclusions of a recent Peters and Company report that determined that LNG supply will outpace demand by 300 million tonnes per year by 2030. The report also concluded that, contrary to B.C. government statements, the U.S. Gulf Coast is now likely the most efficient place to construct LNG facilities in North America.

Building on examples from California, Oregon and Washington State, Dr. Weaver laid out a “Made in BC” vision for a diversified, sustainable, 21st century economy that is grounded in strong existing industries, like tourism, mining and film, but that also builds on key up-and-coming industries, like the clean tech sector, that will be pillars of a 21st century economy.

Dr. Weaver’s vision includes a key focus on reinvesting in education and ensuring that core government services levels are sustainably and resiliently funded so that the burden does not fall to those least able to bear it.

“We have an opportunity for real leadership in B.C.,” says Weaver. “However, that leadership needs to start with an honest discussion about how we build a truly 21st century economy — one that does not gamble with our future, but instead builds a diversified, sustainable economy that provides for this generation and the next.”

-30-

Media Contact

Mat Wright – Press Secretary, Andrew Weaver MLA
Mat.Wright@leg.bc.ca
Cell: 1 250 216 3382

Media Statement: October 8, 2014
Response of Greater Victoria councils to calls for governance questions on the November ballots welcomed

For Immediate Release

Victoria B.C. – Andrew Weaver, MLA for Oak Bay – Gordon Head and Deputy Leader of the B.C. Green Party, welcomes the response of local councils to calls for governance questions to be on the November 15^th local elections ballots in Greater Victoria. Saanich, Oak Bay and six more of the thirteen municipalities within the Capital Regional District will place a non-binding question seeking public input on shared services, local and regional governance and, in some cases, the potential for amalgamation. A positive vote will trigger a study on local governance and publically-funded services, leading to recommendations on the future of local and regional governance.

“This is welcome news. It is encouraging to see democracy at work with local mayors and councillors listening to their communities,” said Andrew Weaver. “I am hopeful that this kind of public engagement will serve as a catalyst to increase voter turnout in the November municipal elections”.

Today, the Honourable Coralee Oakes, Minister responsible for local government, congratulated the municipalities that have placed a governance question on the November 15^th ballot, and stated her office and staff are available to assist with resources and support.

“The Minister’s announcement that resources and staff are available to support a governance study, is appreciated and demonstrates that they too are listening to residents of the capital regional district,” said Andrew Weaver. “It is vital the province and local governments work together to ensure residents are fully consulted and have an opportunity to voice their questions and ideas as this moves forward.”

-30-

Media Contact
Mat Wright – Press Secretary, Andrew Weaver MLA
mat.wright@leg.bc.ca
1 250 216 3382