Below you'll find some key points about issues we are following in the lead up to the 2008 federal election. Select a topic below to read what our experts have to say. 

Climate Change Key Election Points
Turn Canada into a Climate Leader

Matthew Bramley
Director,
Climate Change

The Pembina Institute is looking for parties to commit to:

• Driving the transition to clean energy by implementing an economy-wide price on emissions of at least $30 per tonne in 2009, rising to at least $75 per tonne by 2020 (these price levels are those recommended by leading environmental organizations, and can be implemented either through taxes or "cap and trade" systems).
• Implementing strong laws and investments, including
  
  
• a legislated cap on Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions that declines over time
• matching or surpassing California's vehicle emissions standards
• a massive scale up in public investment in renewable power and public transit.

• Accepting a legally binding target to cut Canada's net annual greenhouse gas emissions to 25% below the 1990 level by 2020, in line with international scientific recommendations. Canada needs to make this commitment in the United Nations negotiations to be concluded in Copenhagen in December 2009.

>> For more detailed questions for parties and candidates, check out the PowerUP Canada campaign.

>> For a summary of each party's stance on the issue of climate change, visit this page at CBC's website.

>> Review Pembina's climate change reading list for the 2008 election.

Renewable Energy | Energy Efficiency Key Election Points
Scale-Up Federal Support for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

Tim Weis
Director,
Renewable Energy
and Efficiency Policy

Canada requires a massive scale-up of energy conservation and efficiency, as well as renewable sources of energy, in order to make the deep reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are required to effectively address climate change.

Fund Key Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Programs
Federal funding for renewable electricity offered through the ecoENERGY program runs out this year. Parties should commit to extending funding to this and other key programs, or risk the decline of renewable electricity projects and energy efficiency in Canada.

Key actions on renewable energy include:

• Extend and expand the renewable electricity incentive program, including a set-aside for remote communities.
• Create incentives for renewable power and biomass heating fuels that meet sustainability criteria.
• Invest in green jobs by funding national renewable energy job training and through manufacturing incentives.
• Invest in large-scale renewable power storage research and development.

Key actions on energy efficiency include:

• Increase funding to the ecoENERGY retrofit program, including targeted support for low-income housing retrofits as a step towards eliminating "energy poverty".
• Provide incentives for commercial and institutional building retrofits, with specific funding for multiple-unit social housing (MUSH).
• Provide tax credits for new green buildings.
• Implement the Early Adopters - Commercial Electric/Hybrid Vehicle program to encourage the adoption of hybrid vehicles into Canadian commercial fleets.

>> For more information on these recommendations, see:
First Steps Towards a Massive Scale-Up of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Canada

Implement a National Renewable Energy Strategy
Establish a long-term vision and action plan that includes short- and long-term goals for the rapid deployment of renewables in Canada.

Establish a National Task Force on Renewable Power Integration
A small population  within expansive geographic boundaries poses unique challenges and opportunities to renewable energy and energy efficiency (RE / EE) in Canada. Establishing a federal task force to investigate barriers and solutions to integrating large amounts of renewable energy into Canadian power grids is an important step in massively scaling up renewable energy in Canada.

Create a Canadian Renewable Energy Act
Introduce an act that enables the federal government to set targets for renewable energy in partnership with the provinces; support provincial renewable energy policies; and provide long term funding to coordinate action on renewable energy and energy efficiency (RE / EE) across political boundaries.

>> Review Pembina's RE / EE reading list for the 2008 election.

Oil Sands Key Election Points
Demonstrate Leadership by Reducing Oil Sands Pollution

Dan Woynillowicz
Director, Strategy
& External Relations The pace and scale of extraction activities in Canada's oil sands — as well as the cumulative environmental, social and economic impacts — make the oil sands  a critical issue for parties in the 2008 election.

Reduce Global Warming Pollution

Oil sands development is the fastest growing source of GHG pollution in Canada.

The Government of Canada's climate change plan will allow absolute emissions from the oil sands to grow 70 per cent by 2020, despite the fact that Canadians — including Albertans — support much stronger action to achieve absolute reductions from the oil sands, even if that means delaying or canceling some oil sands projects.

The next federal government must implement a climate change plan that will limit and reduce absolute GHG emissions from the oil sands sector.

Implement a National Energy Strategy
Canada is one of the few OECD countries that lacks a national energy strategy, despite its wealth of energy resources. Developing a national energy strategy that will transition us from polluting and inefficient energy use to an economy based on sustainable energy production must be a top priority for the next federal government.

Responsible Management of Oil Sands Development
Oil sands development presents clear areas of federal jurisdiction and national public interest, such as

• greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution and climate change,
• transboundary air pollution and freshwater impacts, and
• endangered species and fisheries.

The Government of Canada has allowed out-of-control development of the oil sands, even in the face of growing environmental impacts and public concern. The next federal government must immediately suspend approvals and permits for new oil sands development until protective environmental impact limits are in place to address climate change pollution, impacts to air quality, boreal forest wildlife and fresh water resources.

Address National Impacts
Oil sands development is driving new industrial development in provinces and territories beyond Alberta. Addressing the expanding environmental and social challenges arising from peripheral oil sands developments such as natural gas exploration in the Arctic, and new refineries  and oil pipelines to for export oil from the oil sands are critical to responsibly managing Canada's energy resources.

>> >> Review Pembina's oil sands reading list for the 2008 election.