MONTREAL – While Stephen Harper makes cuts to environmental programs, the Liberal Party of Canada is committed to making the most significant investment in clean energy in Canadian history to help create the jobs and economy of tomorrow, Liberal MP for Lac-Saint-Louis Francis Scarpaleggia said today.
“Mr. Harper is willing to sacrifice a clean and healthy environment while wasting billions of taxpayer dollars on U.S.-style mega-prisons, untendered stealth fighters and corporate tax cuts,” said Mr. Scarpaleggia, who is also the federal Liberal Party’s Water Critic.
“This government’s spending priorities do not reflect the priorities of students who know that you don’t have to choose between environmental sustainability and economic growth. What helps the environment can help the economy – a concept the climate-change denying Harper Conservatives fail to grasp.”
In a speech to students during McGill Green Careers Week, Mr. Scarpaleggia will outline the Liberal plan to create a clean energy economy.
Liberals will make an historic investment in clean energy and energy efficiency, quadrupling Canada’s production of renewable energy, and creating a cap-and-trade system with hard caps leading to absolute reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
“This strategy, combined with a commitment to protect our air, oceans, waterways, forests and Arctic, will restore Canada’s place as an environmental leader,” he said.
Mr. Scarpaleggia will also discuss his involvement in environmental issues, such as his continued advocacy for the protection of the St. Lawrence River and his efforts to establish a national water strategy.
On Wednesday, Mr. Scarpaleggia will participate in a panel discussion on green careers with speakers from Falcon Environmental Services, the City of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and JL Ecologia.
