Re: “NDP soul search going nowhere” (B.C. Views, July 29, 2013)

Climate change is a reality, and bold political leadership is needed to address it.

During the election campaign, New Democrats put forward a plan to expand the base of the carbon tax to include venting emissions from oil and gas operations, capturing an additional five per cent of carbon emissions in the province, but that plan didn’t include all industrial process emissions.

We believe that government should work with the oil and gas sector to make sure companies pay their fair share for the emissions they produce. This is particularly important as the B.C. Liberal government pursues an aggressive schedule of LNG expansion which, if realized, will make it nearly impossible for the government to reach our legal emission reduction requirements.

New Democrats will hold the government to account for their green promises, and continue to advocate for policies that help reduce emissions and spur efficiency, innovation and best practices.

Spencer Chandra Herbert

New Democrat environment critic

MLA, Vancouver-West End