Trudeau environment policy a letdown for young Canada activists

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MONTREAL, Oct 20, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Bearing posters of Justin Trudeau’s
face, written over with green crosses and the word “pipeline,” students
gathered in front of the prime minister’s Montreal campaign headquarters.

“Three steps forward, three steps back, that’s government policy,” they
chanted. They — like many other young Canadians — were railing against what
they consider deficiencies in Trudeau’s environmental policy.

The nationalization of an oil pipeline in 2018 is one of the major
criticisms leveled against Trudeau, who is seeking re-election in Canada’s
election on Monday.

The Liberal government bought the Trans Mountain pipeline, which links
Alberta to British Columbia, from the American energy giant Kinder Morgan for
Can$4.5 billion ($2.7 billion, 2.4 billion euros).

The goal was to speed up the export of oil from Alberta to new foreign
markets. In exchange, the Canadian government promised to invest the profits
in green technology.

Many Canadian environmentalists viewed Trudeau’s move as a betrayal. The
deal may cost him crucial votes on Monday, with the prime minister currently
polling neck and neck with Conservative Andrew Scheer.

For activists, Trudeau, who was a symbol of hope when he took office in
2015, is no longer a change agent but the man who didn’t do enough for the
environment.

– ‘Huge disappointment’ –

On university campuses, protesting for the environment — one of the key
issues in the election — is all the rage.

“We’re seeing an uptick in membership in all sorts of environmental groups
at McGill” in recent weeks, said Audrey Nelles from Divest McGill, a student
group advocating for the prestigious Montreal university to withdraw funds it
has invested in fossil fuels.

“I think that after the Harper years, there was a lot of hope,” said
Annabelle Couture-Guay, also of Divest McGill, referring to Trudeau’s
Conservative predecessor Stephen Harper.

But “buying the Trans Mountain pipeline, that was a huge disappointment.
It made a lot of people cynical,” she said.

The pipeline issue has also provided Trudeau’s rivals with plenty of
ammunition.

The Liberals “tried to please everyone, and that drew criticism from the
right for not having gone far enough in economic development, and from the
left for having bought the pipeline,” said Daniel Beland, a political
specialist at McGill.

At the end of September, the New Democratic Party (NDP) — whose leader
Jagmeet Singh has risen in the polls and appeals to the Liberal left wing —
issued a five-word statement responding to Trudeau’s climate plan: “You.
Bought. A. Pipeline.”

– Future –

Liberals have pledged net zero carbon emissions by 2050, two billion trees
planted and the promotion of clean technology.

There have also been a few advances, such as a federal carbon tax plan,
the protection of 14 percent of marine and coastal areas, and the publication
of major scientific reports on climate change in Canada.

Young voters demanding stronger climate policy are facing a dilemma
because of Canada’s first-past-the-post system: voting for smaller parties
can split the vote between the left and the center, opening the door for the
Conservatives.

But protesters at “Fridays for Future,” a movement started by teenage
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, promise to continue applying pressure —
whether or not they are of voting age.

“Since we’re young people who can’t vote, we want to influence people who
can,” explained Marlene Gaudreau, 17, co-organizer of a Friday protest
outside Trudeau’s campaign office.

“We would like to have a future too,” she said.