Roundup: And now the environmental policy

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Justin Trudeau was out in Vancouver yesterday to unveil the next plank in his party’s platform, filling out his previous environmental proposal to sit down with the provinces to allow them to collectively come up with a climate plan in the short time between the election and the Paris climate conference in December. Trudeau’s new announcements included phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, putting more money into clean tech jobs, restoring the environmental assessment process and adding more teeth to the National Energy Board and its review processes, increasing the amount of protected coastal areas, and cancelling fees at national parks in 2017 to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary. Overall, his message was that there will be a price on carbon if the Liberals form government. Predictably, the Conservatives came out with cries of “carbon tax!” while the NDP rolled their eyes and muttered about vague targets with no actual named carbon price. Paul Wells notes that one really can’t criticise Trudeau for being devoid of policy any longer, and that it may force voters to give him and his party a second look.

Good reads:

  • Maclean’s Martin Patriquin has new details about Thomas Mulcair’s negotiations with the Conservatives in 2007, which apparently broke down over money.
  • A number of Conservative MPs quietly repaid House Administration for improper mailings. But it’s the Senate that has the problem, right?
  • The military has quietly shelved an investigation into the Joint Personnel Support Units and why they’re not working, earning a rebuke from the military ombudsman.
  • Scott Andrews complains that he was denied the presumption of innocence during the investigation into allegations of sexual harassment.
  • An RCMP musical ride event included a “terrorist takedown” demonstration – not for the first time – and people freaked out.
  • Surprising no one, Mulcair demanded the Prime Minister defend Supply Management “in its entirety.”
  • Federal unions are launching a Charter challenge of the government’s sick leave proposals. Coming soon – a Charter challenge of Bill C-377.

Odds and ends:

Pierre Poilievre’s former assistant has been nominated to run in Nepean, while Bob Rae endorsed Marco Mendicino, who is running for the nomination against Eve Adams.

The head of the RCAF shot down the proposal to share the spotlight at air shows last year with the Canadian Space Agency to mark their 25th anniversary.

Kady O’Malley offers a pop quiz of different parties’ fundraising pitches.