Communities need support from the federal government in the fight against climate change: NDP

NANAIMO – While the Liberals drag their feet, people on Vancouver Island have had to endure the impacts of the climate emergency with extreme flooding this past fall. The NDP recently tabled a bill which would change the mandate of the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) to make the fight against the climate crisis its priority. The bank’s mandate would be to deliver support and resources to help the most marginalized communities hardest hit by the impacts of climate change, such as Indigenous communities, instead of putting more money in the pockets of rich CEOs.

“First Nations in Nanaimo—Ladysmith have been at the forefront of the climate emergency for years, but their concerns have been ignored by successive Liberal and Conservative governments,” said Nanaimo—Ladysmith MP Lisa Marie Barron. “Seasonal flooding routinely forces First Nations community members out of their homes, causes mould, and erodes their burial sites. We need real solutions that invest in climate mitigation infrastructure where it is needed most.”

Specifically, this bill removes the part of the CIB’s mandate that allows it to seek out private investment in the interest of rich CEOs and encourages the federal government to fund public projects that foster climate change mitigation and adaptation. The bill will ensure Indigenous and Northern communities have representation on the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s Board and require greater transparency with regular reporting.

“While Justin Trudeau talks a lot about fighting the climate crisis, under his government, Canada has become the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases per capita in the G7,” added Barron. “New Democrats will continue to hold the Liberals to account and make sure people in our community get the strong climate action they have been calling for.”

MP Lisa Marie Barron highlighted the impacts flooding has had on First Nations in Nanaimo-Ladysmith in a series of recent debates in the House of Commons and demanded the government support strong bold climate action:
Indigenous Infrastructure & the Climate Crisis
NDP Climate Legislation