Tag Archives: Jennifer Lash

Energy, Politics

New West Coast Pipeline, BC’s Prosperity Agreement & Canada’s Emissions Targets

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“We’re living through a time of great disruption. The global trading system, in which we’ve long relied as a country, is being dramatically restructured. Global conflicts have sharpely increased gas and food prices around the world and right here at home. The rapid rise of artifical intelligence is beginning to transform how we live and how we work. Climate change is worsening, with bigger storms, heavier flooding, more devastating wildfires. Canadians are feeling the impacts at their kitchen tables, at the pimps and on their factory floors. The good news is that unlike many countries, we can control our future, but that will require doing things differently – movng faster, building bigger and working together. And nowhere is that more the case than energy.” – Mark Carney 

The new West Coast Pipeline will closely follow the existing Trans Mountain Pipeline (TMX) route. BC has been promised billions of dollars through a new prosperity agreement, and Prime Minister Mark Carney has stepped back from Canada’s emissions targets because they are too divisive.

In this morning’s broadcast, two experts provide their insights into these matters. Jennifer Lash is a former senior analyst with Environment and Climate Change Canada and ran as a Liberal candidate in the 2025 election. She endorses the Prime Minister’s actions. Ian Sanderson, a senior analyst in the oil and gas division at the Pembina Institute, explains his reservations.

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Cost of Climate Change, Energy

Jennifer Lash on Mark Carney, the MOU and Canada’s low carbon future

There have been a lot of concerns that the MOU with Alberta represents a step backward when it comes to reducing climate-change-causing emissions from big industry and advancing clean energy. In this morning’s interview, Jennifer Lash, who was both a senior adviser at Environment and Climate Change Canada and a Liberal candidate in the last election, shares her perspective on these issues.

Shortly after the radio version of this story first aired, Carrie Saxefrage from the Cortes Island Climate Action Network emailed, “Ten years ago, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney gave a speech in which he said the world must turn risk into opportunity by building new markets in climate transition and green finance. Last week, Prime Minister Carney just backed down before the oil industry bullies who are pushing our shared Earth further toward mass extinction. The new Mark Carney may survive to fight another day, but how much of our money will he have thrown away, or locked into climate destruction? What and who will be left to save? “

“Canada needs the Mark Carney of ten years ago, the leader who is eager to use his political capital to persuade Canada that our taxes and regulations must, with deliberate speed, transition our nation toward stability and away from fossil fuels.”  

May Thaysen added, “The Cortes climate action network is here to build a home base for the people power we need to stop the pollution that is threatening our lives and livelihoods – that includes political pressure on the Prime Minister to force him to do the right things.  Reach out at [email protected].”

Jennifer Lash explained, “I went through a bit of an existential crisis when the MOU was announced. That was a hard moment for me. I’ve spent many years arguing against pipelines and arguing for carbon pricing, but I had to step out of the old way I was looking at climate. I had to step into a new way of looking at it, one that took more into consideration the current global crisis we’re in and the political situation.”

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Energy, Politics

Taxpayer Dollars, the pipeline, and Canada’s Clean Energy Future

Three weeks ago the Toronto Star reported that “three Liberals privately suggested to the Star that Prime Minister Mark Carney may put federal money behind a new pipeline to the west coast … Sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, say Carney wants to see the pipeline built, and is realizing it may not happen without more public money behind it.”

Aaron Gunn, the Conservative MP for North Island-Powell River, emailed that he is not interested in discussing rumours. While he recently acknowledged the climate is changing, Gunn also stated Canadians have more important issues to deal with. The pipeline was one of them: 

“I will say this pipeline should have been built ten years ago. Instead, the world remains beholden to oil from brutal, dictatorial regimes like Russia and Iran, while Canadian oil sells at a discount to the United States.” 

Jennifer Lash’s response to the Toronto Star article was, “Ottawa is nothing if not a fish bowl of rumours.”

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Energy, Politics

Fossil Fuel Lobbyists very active in 2025, report says

Fossil fuel interests increased their lobbying during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s tenure. According to Environmental Defence’s  2025 Fossil Fuel Playbook, iindustry lobbyists met with federal officials 986 times in 2025, despite a three-month lull during the election period.

Jennifer Lash, the Liberal candidate in North island-Powell River during the last election, responded, “There is no question that this Liberal government has signalled they are open to conversations with the fossil fuel sector and these numbers show that the companies are accepting the invitation. What really matters, however, is the outcome, particularly with the commitments in the MoU.  Canada must ensure the methane equivalency agreement and industrial carbon pricing regulations are rigorous and effective and I will be watching to see what happens in the coming weeks.”  

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Politics

On The Threshold of a Liberal Majority

Between the opposition MPs who crossed the floor and three by-elections coming up on April 13, Mark Carney’s Liberal government is on the threshold of forming a majority government.

Neither Tanille Johnston, who is currently running for leadership of the NDP, nor Aaron Gunn, the Member of Parliament for North Island–Powell River, were available for comment.

Jessica Wegg, the Green Party candidate during the last two elections, observed, “We’re two votes away from the Liberals having a majority. I don’t know that it matters that much to Carney. His policies skew so far toward what Conservatives would want anyway, he is getting lots and lots of support. I think it would be risky for him to call a general election because it’s not necessary. As he gets closer and closer to having a majority without a general election, it would be harder and harder to sell to Canadians that it would be necessary to call everybody to the polls again, spend all this money again on a general election when he’s doing everything he wants and just ramming through bills without even having a majority.”

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