HALIFAX – Yesterday’s announcement that Tesla will build a third "gigafactory" in Germany demonstrates how aggressive climate policy can drive investment and create jobs.
"While Canada lags behind the industrialized world in climate policy, we are missing economic opportunities," said Green Party Interim Leader Jo-Ann Roberts. “A recent global survey ranked Canada third to last amongst industrialized countries, only ahead of Australia and Saudi Arabia, for climate action.”
"While all Canadians understand the importance of addressing western alienation, we must do so by creating new green economic opportunities in those provinces, not by doubling down on dinosaur investments that are bound for economic ruin and climate chaos," added Green Party Parliamentary Leader Elizabeth May (MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands).
Tesla credited Germany's enhanced subsidies to purchase EVs in deciding to place its latest factory outside Berlin. "With our auto sector in crisis, we need to be highly competitive in the global market for EVs," said Paul Manly (MP, Nanaimo-Ladysmith). "Building pipelines and subsidizing fossil fuels sends the wrong message to the world. If we want to be competitive, we need to re-allocate those subsidies to companies driving the renewable energy economy.”
The transportation sector produces over a quarter of Canada’s carbon dioxide emissions, by far the largest contributor to climate pollution. In order to hold the global average temperature increase to no more than 1.5 degrees C and achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the Green Party says the sale of internal combustion engine passenger vehicles must be phased out by 2030. Attracting and investing in companies at the forefront of electric vehicle production is a win-win for workers and the environment.
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For more information or to arrange an interview contact:
Rosie Emery
Press Secretary
613-562-4916x206
rosie.emery@greenparty.ca