OTTAWA/TRADITIONAL, UNCEDED TERRITORY OF THE ALGONQUIN ANISHNAABEG PEOPLE — Ecojustice director of law reform, Muhannad Malas issued the following statement in reaction to the election of Mark Carney as Prime Minister of Canada:
“This was a crucial election for Canada. Communities across the country are facing unprecedented environmental threats coupled with an affordability crisis and economic uncertainty that is being exacerbated by trade tensions with the United States. In this time of multiple converging crises, it’s critical that Prime Minister Carney demonstrates courageous leadership and prioritizes policies that protect all workers, communities, and the ecosystems that sustain us.
“The health of our environment and communities should not be a partisan issue. Canada must continue to build on the progress made on climate change and the important steps taken to reduce pollution and protect and restore the country’s treasured and life-sustaining biodiversity. We look forward to working with all parties to advance environmental laws and regulations that can secure our climate, ecosystems and rights for generations to come.
“While our neighbour to the south pursues a political agenda that includes a wholesale attack on environmental regulations and democratic norms, we cannot let similar attempts to erode protections for the environment, fairness, and justice — values people in Canada proudly espouse and hold dear — be normalized in Canada.
“We urge Prime Minister Carney, and leaders and elected members of all federal parties, to look beyond partisanship and move quickly to build a resilient clean economy that respects Indigenous rights, centers rigorous environmental protections and assessment processes, and prioritizes the health and wellbeing of workers, communities and ecosystems.
“Ecojustice will be keeping a watchful eye on what Canada’s new government does next and how it plans to prioritize action to confront the existential environmental threats that put our collective health and wellbeing at risk.”
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Ecojustice uses the power of the law to defend nature, combat climate change and fight for a healthy environment. Our strategic, public interest lawsuits and advocacy lead to precedent-setting court decisions, law, and policy that deliver lasting solutions to Canada’s most urgent environmental problems. As Canada’s largest environmental law charity, Ecojustice operates offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax.
More information on Ecojustice’s work to:
- Protect and restore nature and biodiversity
- Act on toxic threats and plastic pollution
- Fight for strong environmental assessments that work for everyone
