Conservative party members vote down resolution to recognize reality of climate change

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The vote will be a blow to leader Erin O’Toole, who told the party’s grassroots that an ambitious climate change agenda is a must if the party hopes to win power

Author of the article:

The Canadian Press

Stephanie Levitz

Publishing date:

Mar 20, 2021  •  7 hours ago  •  1 minute read  •  176 Comments Conservative leader Erin O’Toole holds a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Article content

OTTAWA — Efforts to get official Conservative policy to recognize that climate change is real have failed.

Fifty-four per cent of voting delegates at the party’s virtual convention voted against the motion, which also stressed the need for highly-polluting businesses to take more responsibility to reduce emissions.

The results of the vote will be a blow to Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, who told the party’s grassroots in a Friday evening speech that an ambitious climate change agenda is a must if the party hopes to win power.

The motion on climate change had the fiercest opposition from the western provinces

The motion expanding the party’s existing policy on the environment was one of the most contentious of the package put before delegates.

To make it into the party’s official policy, motions need what’s known as a double majority: a majority of delegates as well as a majority of delegates in a majority of provinces.

The motion on climate change had the fiercest opposition from the western provinces, with delegates from New Brunswick and Quebec showing the most support.