B次元官网网址

Skip to content

May sees room for consensus on climate action, pharmacare in new Parliament

The Greens return with three MPs, fewer than many anticipated after promising signs of support
19086454_web1_19044237_web1_191021-VNE-GreenPartyElection2019-004-1200x800
Elizabeth May, here at her victory party Monday night, said she would likely run again in 2023 to be the MP for Saanich Gulf-Islands, but left open the possibility that she might step from the partyB次元官网网址檚 leadership (Arnold Lim/B次元官网网址 Staff)

Green Leader Elizabeth May hopes to use whatever influence her three-member caucus has to ensure bolder climate action, a pharmacare plan and a promise of lower cellphone rates make their way into the next throne speech.

May has spoken with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau since MondayB次元官网网址檚 election and expects to have an ongoing dialogue with federal leaders before Parliament resumes.

The Greens return with three MPs, fewer than many anticipated after promising signs of support from voters early in the campaign.

Still, May said in an interview Wednesday she sees opportunity for consensus with the Liberals and New Democrats on key issues.

The Liberals will have incentive to prove theyB次元官网网址檙e accomplishing things in a minority Parliament if they want to remain in power, May said.

She will try to leverage that reality to make gains on addressing the climate crisis.

READ MORE:

May wants Canada to seriously curb greenhouse-gas emissions by agreeing to aggressive new targets at the global Conference of Parties meeting in Chile in December.

B次元官网网址淚f weB次元官网网址檙e going to avoid an unlivable world, we have months, not years, to fix this,B次元官网网址 she said.

B次元官网网址淪o weB次元官网网址檒l need to apply maximum pressure right now on the Liberals to change our climate target before the negotiations begin at COP 25 in Santiago.B次元官网网址

At a news conference Wednesday, Trudeau signalled a willingness to work with fellow parliamentarians on priorities, including climate change, though he ruled out any kind of coalition.

May sees common ground on a renegotiated national health accord that includes pharmacare and dental care for low-income Canadians. B次元官网网址淚 think thereB次元官网网址檚 room for consensus on that.B次元官网网址

Such plans could take shape informally among likeminded party leaders in coming weeks, May suggested.

B次元官网网址淲e could have some time of just talking to one another as leaders on the phone, trying to figure out are there places where we could decide now B次元官网网址 letB次元官网网址檚 work to consensus on things like pharmacare, letB次元官网网址檚 work to consensus on climate action.B次元官网网址

Parties could also agree on more affordable cellphone rates and collecting a fair share of taxes from global, web-based businesses operating in Canada, she said.

May stressed the importance of working with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh despite lingering anger over what she sees as grossly unfair attacks on her party in British Columbia during the campaign.

May hopes leaders will agree to bring a more civil tone to parliamentary debate after seeing respect and decorum disintegrate in the last sitting.

B次元官网网址淭his could get much, much worse,B次元官网网址 she said.

B次元官网网址淚f we start out where we left off, itB次元官网网址檚 going to be unwatchable. Canadians will not want their children to watch Parliament.B次元官网网址

Jim Bronskill , The Canadian Press

Like us on and follow us on .





(or

B次元官网网址

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }