Green Party Releases 2021 Election Platform

Green Party Leader Annamie Paul launches her election campaign at a press conference in the riding of Toronto Centre, on Aug. 15, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Christopher Katsarov)

The Green Party of Canada launched its 2021 election platform on Sept. 7, with a focus on sustainability and economic recovery.

The plan aims at advancing policy toward three major goals: a “Green Future,” “Life with Dignity,” and a “Just Society.”

“Many of the tragic events that unfolded during the past 18 months revealed gaping fault lines in our society, vulnerabilities that, if not addressed, will leave us in a perilously weak position to face the immense challenges of the 21st century,” Green Party Leader Annamie Paul said in a media release. “Our platform is what this moment calls for.”

To transition to a “green future,” the platform proposes to achieve “net negative” greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and end fossil fuel extraction by cancelling all new pipeline projects and oil exploration.

“By acting now, Canada has the chance of a lifetime to accelerate its transition to a net-zero economy and become a world leader in cleantech and renewable energy,” Paul stated.

In order to “replace every high paying fossil fuel sector job with a high paying green sector job,” the platform proposes to make current wealth holders such as those in the fossil fuel sector to “pay their fair share,” and disincentivize unsustainable investments by raising taxes on “environmentally harmful goods and services.”

The Green Party has promised to introduce a “Just Transition Act” by the end of 2021 to support workers and communities during the transition period out of the oil and gas sector.

The platform also aims to deliver an economic recovery plan that addresses existing social problems including poverty, affordable housing, and homelessness.

The Green Party proposes a comprehensive benefit called Guaranteed Livable Income (GLI), which replaces separate federal and provincial programs with a single, universal, unconditional cash payment delivered through the tax system.

The platform also lists plans to expand other universal programs such as abolishing tuition for post-secondary education, cancelling federally held student loan debts, and introducing universal pharmacare, dental care, and child care.

The Green Party will also introduce a number of new taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals, including an “empty home” tax for foreign and corporate residential property owners who hold vacant buildings and units.