Lobbying MPs, senators has value

Recently, I and dozens of Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada (CCL) colleagues were on Parliament Hill lobbying for improvements to Canada’s carbon pricing policy. I participated in meetings with Senator Rosa Galvez, Conservative Party Deputy Leader Lisa Raitt and three Liberal Members of Parliament -- MP Francis Drouin, MP Francis Scarpaleggia and MP Maryam Monsef’s legislative assistant. I came away from these meetings with a better appreciation of the “climate work” already happening across Canada. Senator Rosa Galvez’s deep knowledge of climate issues convinced me that we have a strong “climate senator” in the Senate.

Deputy Conservative Party Leader Lisa Raitt’s well-informed questions about carbon pricing policy were most refreshing at a time when Canada needs an all-handson-deck approach to the complex climate challenges facing Canadians.

MP Francis Drouin represents a rural riding in which the farming community is adopting measures to reduce emissions while improving productivity and efficiency.

The meeting with MP Francis Scarpaleggia has given me a better appreciation of the complexities of having a national carbon price in a country as politically diverse as Canada.

We have a complex system of governance because of the division of powers between the provinces and the federal government.

MP Maryam Monsef was unavailable but the meeting with her assistant provided a glimpse into the importance of climate change and carbon pricing for MP Monsef.

The more people know, the more they can see what needs to be done.

Rolly Montpellier Plevna