Scheer skips climate rallies, flies to B.C. to talk traffic jams

Says he’s not ‘out of step’ with the mood of young Canadian demonstrators

OTTAWA— Andrew Scheer skipped nationwide climate action rallies Friday, choosing instead to announce that a Conservative government would prioritize infrastructure to reduce traffic commute times.

Scheer was the only leader of a major federal party who did not participate in one of the climate strike marches that drew hundreds of thousands of students to the streets across Canada.

Instead, the Conservative leader flew from Montreal — where the largest march was held — to British Columbia to make the infrastructure announcement.

Asked Friday if his decision was “out of step” with the mood of the country, Scheer criticized Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau for marching in Montreal, suggesting Trudeau was protesting his own record.

“It’s always encouraging when you see so many people, especially young people, show their concern for this very important issue. And that is why we have many members of Parliament and candidates who are there,” Scheer said.

“I find it interesting and ironic that Justin Trudeau is actually protesting his own government’s record on the environment. … I think they see the insincerity that he has on this issue.” Trudeau met in Montreal with Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg, who has become the global spokesperson for youth fighting climate change, before marching with the crowds. Earlier Friday, he announced that a re-elected Liberal government would commit to planting two billion trees by 2030, as part of a $3billion effort to use nature to slow down climate change.

Scheer announced that he would support the George Massey Tunnel replacement project in B.C., which would widen the tunnel to ease congestion.

He suggested that increasing capacity for car traffic would be environmentally-friendly, by reducing idling during rush hour. That position is debatable, with some urbanists and city planners arguing that widening roads induces demand, leading to more car traffic and congestion.

The Conservative leader was also challenged on his opposition to the Liberal government’s carbon pricing plan.

A reporter noted that an analysis by the independent Parliamentary Budget Officer found that 90 per cent of revenues from the carbon levy will be returned to households in provinces where the federal carbon levy is enforced, including Ontario. The typical household, according to the PBO analysis, will receive more in rebates than they spend in increased cost.

Scheer responded that most people don’t believe that.