Hi Friend,
They are calling Fiona a “post-tropical storm” but what it really represents is a new and terrifying level of climate catastrophe, and we can expect more just like it. Or worse. Much of Canada’s east coast is just starting to see the awful damage caused over the weekend.
Homes smashed, lives ruined, a disastrous mess over the Maritimes, and all because the ocean is a few degrees warmer.
Seaside towns like Port aux Basques suffer terrible losses. The cost to restore this region will run into the billions of dollars. These are just some of the costs of climate change.
The Green Party is calling on Canada and the world to seize moments like this and call for the fast transition from the dirty fossil-fuels now in use to more sustainable sources of power.
Because while we wait, what happened this past weekend in Canada is just a precursor of what the future holds.
The people running for the leadership of the Green Party are deeply focussed on this tragedy, and some have shared their views as to how Canada should move forward.
ANNA KEENAN
“The destruction caused in my home province of Epekwitk/Prince Edward Island by Hurricane Fiona was intense. Be assured that I am safe and well. Fiona was the strongest hurricane ever to make landfall in Canada, and it was forecast by climate science. If we want to protect our children and grandchildren from a lifetime of escalating climate disruption, we must act courageously and decisively to regulate, and rapidly phase out, the fossil fuel industry. The security of our society, our physical environment and infrastructure, and our economy, depends on it.”
SARAH GABRIELLE BARON
“Greens believe the Canadian Armed Forces should be helping Canadians caught in the trauma of ecological disaster. Our first policy on this was in 1988, then 2006, 2012, and 2014: "...promote an enhanced role for Canada's existing armed forces...in addressing the impacts of climate change..." If these measures had been put in place, our current Prime Minister wouldn't have to say they will only help hurricane Fiona survivors by matching donations to the Red Cross. We knew these days were coming. Let's match reality with intelligent planning.”
ELIZABETH MAY
“Today’s level of fossil-fuel use in the world produces the energy equivalent to seven Hiroshima atomic bombs every second of every minute of every day. The oceans take in much of this heat. We see the results. May Hurricane Fiona confirm our commitment to resilience in communities and to fight against the climate crisis.”
CHAD WALCOTT
"Climate scientists have been warning us for years that climate change would bring about more, and frequent extreme climate events. We are now seeing, through Fiona and the rise in major forest fires, that they were right. Now more than ever we need a strong Green Party to occupy the balance of power within the House of Commons. Greens are the only Party that is bold enough to implement the strong climate policy and develop the long-term planning we need to address the crises of our time and help us adapt to our new reality."
They ask you to join with them to champion the changes we urgently need to make and they need your help to do it.
Donate Today!
Dana Taylor
Interim Executive Director
Green Party of Canada
P.S. Check here for Candidate views on leading the Green Party of Canada forward