The Liberal Party of Canada will table their federal budget in just a few days time (March 22). It is imperative that citizens seize the moment and act to make this budget a huge turning point for our climate and economy.(1)
Canada currently gives big oil $43.3 billion in handouts every single year. That’s enough money to hire over ten thousand new teachers, four thousand new doctors, and still have enough money left over to end the water crisis of First Nations reserves. (2-5)
Right now citizens have an incredible opportunity to push Parliament for change. With Liberals desperate to repair their image on climate after facing intense backlash for approving pipelines, a huge petition could convince them to end fossil fuel subsidies in this new budget. Check out this link:
http://www.leadnow.ca/end-fossil-fuel-subsidies/
With global warming already unleashing more droughts, floods, wildfires (around the world), giving taxpayer-funded handouts to the companies responsible for climate pollution makes no sense.
And ending fossil fuel subsidies isn’t just good for our environment—it’s also good economic policy. The International Monetary Fund estimates that eliminating fossil fuels subsidies globally would increase our economy by $1.8 trillion annually (while slashing pollution-related deaths by 50%). (6)
Huge oil companies make millions in profits every year, and they don’t deserve bailouts from taxpayers—especially when so many of us are struggling to make ends meet, and are told time and again there’s no money to fix our schools or decrease waiting room lines at the hospital.
During the election, the Liberals promised to end fossil fuels subsidies for good, and now we need to push them to follow through.
The government is trying to repair their image as environmental leaders and a massive petition right now could convince them to end handouts to big oil for good. With budget just days away there is no time to waste by citizens. We are all in this together. Act now says NORTONSPEAKS.
SOURCES:
[1] When is the federal budget? Morneau says March 22, http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/03/07/federal-budget-2017-morneau_n_15214338.html
[2] Canada gives $3.3bn subsidies to fossil fuel producers despite climate pledge, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/15/climate-change-canada-fossil-fuel-subsidies-carbon-trudeau
[3] Wage comparison: how much BC teachers salaries rank across Canada, http://globalnews.ca/news/1346218/wage-comparison-how-b-c-teachers-salaries-rank-across-canada/
[4] How much are doctors paid? http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/how-much-are-canadian-doctors-paid/article7750697/
[5] Despite Liberal promise, trudeau hasn’t made dent in First Nations water crisis, https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/despite-trudeaus-promise-liberals-havent-made-a-dent-in-the-first-nations-water-crisis
[6] Fossil fuel subsidies cost $5 trillion annually, ]https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fossil-fuel-subsidies-cost-5-trillion-annually-and-worsen-pollution/
