Climate change and local government Canada

1. Roles and Responsibilities of
different levels of Government
in tackling Climate Change
Dheeraj Jha (DJ)
Constituency Affairs Specialist
Office of Dan Muys, MP Flamborough - Glanbrook

2. The Reality
Climate Change
is a reality
Average increase
of temperature
in Canada in last
70 years is about
1.7C
Change is
apparent in form
of variation,
duration,
frequency and
timings
Our
infrastructures
are not adequate

3. Different levels of
government

4. Powers to
regulate
Environment
The constitution Act 1867 does not include a distinct
legislative power regarding the environment. As a result,
both Parliament and the provincial legislatures can
legislate in the area.
To determine which level of government may deal with
an environmental matter, it is necessary to identify the
power enumerated in the Constitution Act, 1867 that
best matches the essence of the legislative or regulatory
measure in question.
Tackling Climate change requires co-ordination at every
levels.

5. Power to regulate related with Air Emissions
Federal
• Regulate emissions from
aviation, interprovincial
transportation
• Regulate release of toxic
substances
• GHGs
Provincial
• Jurisdiction to regulate over
emissions from most types of
industries
• GHGs

6. Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• The provinces and territories have broad jurisdiction to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. They may directly
regulate emissions from industries and activities under their jurisdiction.
- Provincial taxation power, they may impose a provincial carbon tax.
- Power to regulate property and civil rights, the provinces may impose levies and establish emissions trading
schemes, such as cap-and-trade schemes
• The federal government’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions is based in its authority, under the
Constitution, to regulate several different subject matters.
- Federal power to impose taxes
- May regulate emissions emanating from industries under federal jurisdiction, such as shipping and aviation.
- under the criminal law power, the federal government to regulate emissions of these gases regardless of the
source.
- Power to regulate trade and commerce

7. Responsibilities
of Municipalities
Building permits
Community improvement plans
Cycling and pedestrian infrastructure
Land use planning
Public Transit
Transportation Planning

8. Importance of Municipalities
Disaster struck at local levels.
Considerable expertise in dealing with challenges
Lack of Funds, Functions and Functionaries
Infrastructure is not adequate

9. Do It
Yourself
Carbon Tax – Federal Vs Alberta
Stop Urban Boundary – Ontario Vs
Hamilton City Council
Green Belt – Ontario Vs other
municipalities
Highway 413

10. Randal Reef
• 150 years of accumulated coal tar
and other industrial pollution – located
in the harbour near pier 15
• 615,000 cubic meters of toxic sludge
• Project cost was $139 million – City
of Hamilton’s share - $14 million

11. Greensville
against
Garbage
Carmeuse Lime Canada planning to
burn Alternative Low Carbon Fuels
to produce lime/clinker
Located near Brock Road and Hwy
#5
Approached us --- What to do?

12. It’s all about the people.