Trudeau to unveil new green measures

New spending could aim to meet 2050 goal

OTTAWA • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will unveil new climate measures on Friday aimed at ensuring Canada will meet its net- zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2050, bringing its environmental policies closer in line with European allies.

A source familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the announcement could include new spending measures aimed at meeting the 2050 goal and surpassing Canada's 2030 environmental commitments.

The a nnouncement comes as the Trudeau government looks to project a credible image on the climate change file, after promising a long list of climate commitments and delivering on only a few. Critics point out that Ottawa is projected to fall short of its 2030 Paris commitments, first agreed to by the Harper government, only for the government to commit to even stricter emissions reductions coming due two decades later.

Trudeau last month laid out a high-level framework to meet its target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson's mandate letter includes “exceeding” 2030 targets and laying the groundwork for a net-zero target by 2050.

The source said the plans announced on Friday would loosely align with the European Union's Green Deal, a sprawling “action plan” that ultimately seeks to eliminate net carbon emissions by 2050, and “decouple” the EU economy from natural resource use.

Those include a methane emissions standard, home retrofits and public funding aimed at incentivizing electric vehicle adoption.

Broad plans to reach net-zero emissions around the world have been applauded by environmental groups, but are typically criticized for lacking teeth.

Trudeau himself acknowledged that his plans to formalize his net- zero emissions target were not legally binding, and therefore unenforceable.

“It is ultimately up to Canadians to continue to choose governments that are serious about reducing climate change and that will be accountable to Canadians every five years,” he said after the 2050 announcement on Nov. 20.

The source said the announcement could include plans around introducing a “border adjustment carbon tax,” similar to those in Europe and floated by U.S. president-elect Joe Biden.

Sources did not confirm whether the announcement would include details around the Clean Fuel Standard, a major regulatory overhaul that seeks to reduce the emissions intensity of gasoline and other fuels.

Ottawa has said regulations on the fuel standard would be coming before the end of 2020.

Possible plans around a border adjustment tax would put Canada in line with the EU and possibly U. S., after Biden said such a policy would level the cross-jurisdictional playing field on climate change.

Border adjustment taxes effectively level tariffs on imports as a way to ensure that domestic companies are not penalized for paying carbon taxes or related climate.

Other major exporters to Canada, like China or India, would likely be affected by the new tax.

The president- elect's trade agenda calls for increased American content provisions, a $ 400- billion Buy American procurement policy and a carbon adjustment tax to force countries exporting goods to the United States to meet climate and environmental obligations.

“This adjustment would stop polluting countries f rom undermining our workers and manufacturers,” says Biden's platform.

Officials in Wilkinson's office declined to confirm the details of the announcement Friday.

According to the prime minister's itinerary, Trudeau and Wilkinson will make an announcement in Ottawa at noon.

Infrastructure Minister Catherine Mckenna and Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault will also be in attendance.