It’s finally official. Justin Trudeau has called a federal election and voters will head to the ballot box on September 20th to elect a new government. This will be the first election to take place under blood red, smoke-covered skies with dozens of communities on evacuation alert due to climate-driven wildfires. And, it’s kicking off just one week after the IPCC released another sobering report that was described as a “code red for humanity” to up our climate ambition. This will be an election in the middle of a climate emergency. The stakes couldn’t be higher. That’s why I’m writing to let you know about our plan to raise the bar for climate leadership in this critical election. Here it is:
- Make the climate emergency a top issue in the election. Building off the success of the “Canada On Fire Day of Action” on July 29th, we’re going to mobilize again. This time, we will bring out thousands of people across the country right before the official federal leaders’ debate. Together, we will make it clear to all politicians that they can’t hide from this unfolding climate crisis. And, we will build up enough momentum to push all candidates and parties to step up their climate ambition. This is a big plan and we can’t do it without your help. That’s why we’re inviting you to join us for a mass call this Tuesday, August 17th, at 3pm PT / 4pm MT / 4pm ST / 5pm CT / 6pm ET / 7pm AT / 7:30pm NDT to find out how you can get involved with this major mobilization.
- Build an unprecedented cross-partisan alliance of climate voters. On Friday, we released polling showing that voters across Canada are overwhelmingly worried about the climate crisis and that 1 in 3 voters would switch their vote to back a climate champion.1 That’s why we will build a grassroots Climate Emergency Voting Alliance. This alliance of climate voters that’s willing to set partisan divisions aside to support real climate champions could completely change the game. We need you to be a part of our movement. Click here to sign up to join our Climate Voting Alliance.
- Electing a slate of climate champions on voting day. In the weeks leading up to September 20th, we will mobilize unprecedented numbers of climate voters to rally behind climate champions who have a chance of unseating the climate deniers and climate delayers who are utterly failing to meet the climate emergency in government.
Politicians have failed us time and again. That’s why we believe that building a bold movement for climate action from the bottom-up is a winning strategy for this election. Together, we can rise above partisan divisions, and focus on building the people power we need to elect climate champions this fall, and hold every single elected leader accountable after the election. This could be our chance to transform Canada’s climate politics but we can’t do it without your help. I hope you will stand with us.
Photo: Allan Lissner