August 31, 2021 – 350 Canada Endorses Seven “Game Changer” Climate Champions 

For Immediate Release 

350 Canada Endorses Seven “Game Changer” Climate Champions 

Endorsed candidates would bring decades of experience in climate advocacy to the House of Commons

Toronto, ON – Today, 350 Canada released its second round of candidate endorsements for the 2021 election, naming seven “Game Changers” running in the 2021 election. 

“Each and every one of these candidates has spent years, if not decades, fighting for climate justice,” said Amara Possian, Campaign Director with 350 Canada. “Politics-as-usual isn’t working when it comes to tackling the climate crisis and neither are “usual politicians.” Adding these voices to the House of Commons could go a long way in electing a parliament that will actually meet the climate emergency.” 

Each of the seven “game changers” have their own records of climate advocacy and activism. On the west coast, both Avi Lewis and Anjali Appadurai are leading voices in the climate movement. In the BC Interior, Joan Philip is an Indigenous leader deeply involved in opposing the Trans Mountain pipeline. In Saskatchewan, Tria Donaldson has been both a climate activist and union organizer, giving her a unique and important understanding of the need for a just transition. Parkdale-High Park candidate Paul Taylor has spent years working on addressing poverty, food security and climate change in Toronto, while in PEI, Anna Keenan is another longtime climate activist, having worked across Canada and around the globe building the climate movement. And, in Labrador, Amy Norman is a young Inuk woman who has lived on the frontlines of climate change her entire life and who will champion ambitious action on the climate emergency in a way that centres justice for those most impacted. 

“We need to elect Members of Parliament who will push for a moratorium on fossil fuel expansion and a just transition that supports working people and communities,” Possian explained.  “These seven Game Changer Climate Champions will do just that”.  

More information on all of 350 Canada’s endorsements can be found at www.climatealliance.ca 

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Contact: Cam Fenton, cam@350.org, 604-369-2155

August 23, 2021 – 350 Canada Responds to NDP Campaign Pledge to End Fossil Fuel Subsidies

For Immediate Release 

350 Canada Responds to NDP Campaign Pledge to End Fossil Fuel Subsidies

Vancouver, BC – Responding to Jagmeet Singh’s promise to end Canada’s subsidies to fossil fuel companies, 350 Canada Digital Manager, Atiya Jaffar, issued this response:

“Justin Trudeau has dumped billions of dollars into expanding the fossil fuel industry, so ending fossil fuel subsidies is a necessary first step to bringing Canada in line with our global climate obligations. We can’t keep expanding fossil fuels if we hope to meet the climate crisis so we certainly shouldn’t be financing that expansion. But, we also can’t stop at just ending subsidies, we need a moratorium on fossil fuel expansion and a big, bold just transition plan that supports workers and communities”. 

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Contact: Cam Fenton, cam@350.org, 604-369-2155

August 20, 2021 – 350 Canada Endorses First Slate of “Defending Champion” Climate Candidates

For Immediate Release 

350 Canada Endorses First Slate of “Defending Champion” Climate Candidates

With wildfires burning and climate change as a top issue in the 2021 election, voters pushed to rally behind climate champions 

Toronto, ON – With the federal election campaign underway, 350 Canada announced their first round of candidate endorsements. Dubbed “Defending Champions,” the five candidates are incumbent Members of Parliament who proved themselves during the last House of Commons session. 

“There were some real champions in the last Parliament who pushed for the kind of bold, ambitious climate policies we need,” said Amara Possian, Campaign Director with 350 Canada. “We’re backing these champions because we expect them to keep this up in the next parliament and deliver emergency level climate action.”

Both national and riding level polls have shown climate change is a significant concern for voters in 2021, with 1 in 3 voters willing to switch their vote to back a climate champion. 

“For the past few months Canada has, quite literally, been on fire because of climate change,” Possian added. “If you’re going to campaign during a climate emergency, you better show up with a climate plan that meets that. That means ending fossil fuel expansion and moving quickly to implement a just transition that works for everyone.” 

Deafening champion candidates were chosen for endorsement based on their records in the last parliament.  

“Both Leah Gazan and Peter Julian put forward climate legislation that’s actually at the scale of this crisis,” said Possian. “Laurel Collins and Elizabeth worked to make Bill C-12 far stronger than it would have been, and Matthew Green stood up to fight for communities being directly impacted by this crisis.” 

Today’s candidate endorsements include: Laurel Collins (NDP), Leah Gazan (NDP), Matthew Green (NDP), Peter Julian (NDP) and Elizabeth May (Green). 

“There’s a good reason there aren’t any Liberals on this endorsement list,” Possian explained. “They bought and continue to push the Trans Mountain pipeline, they dragged their feet on legislating a just transition, they’re dumping billions into fossil fuel subsidies and keep approving new oil and gas expansion, none of which is compatible with a safe climate”. 

More information can be found at climatealliance.ca 

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Contact: Cameron Fenton, cam@350.org, 604-369-2155

August 18, 2021 – Stop Funding the Fire – 350 Canada Responds to Trudeau’s Climate Firefighting Announcement

For Immediate Release 

Stop Funding the Fire – 350 Canada Responds to Trudeau’s Climate Firefighting Announcement

Vancouver, BC – Responding to Justin Trudeau’s promise to invest in training 1000 firefighters to respond to climate fueled wildfires, Amara Possian Campaigns Director with 350 Canada issued this response. 

“There’s something ridiculous about promising money to fight wildfires while stoking those same fires with fossil fuel expansion. By dumping billions of dollars into fossil fuel subsidies, buying the Trans Mountain pipeline, supporting fossil fuel expansion and dragging their feet on a just transition, the Liberal party has clearly shown they’re not interested in doing what it takes to put out this fire.” Read more

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Contact: Cam Fenton, cam@350.org, 604-369-2155

August 13, 2021 – Voters Want Canada to Meet Climate Emergency, Willing to Shift Votes to Make it Happen

August 13, 2021

For Immediate Release 

Voters Want Canada to Meet Climate Emergency, Willing to Shift Votes to Make it Happen

Vancouver, BC – Responding to Justin Trudeau’s promise to invest in training 1000 firefighters to respond to climate fueled wildfires, Amara Possian Campaigns Director with 350 Canada issued this response.

“There’s something ridiculous about promising money to fight wildfires while stoking those same fires with fossil fuel expansion. By dumping billions of dollars into fossil fuel subsidies, buying the Trans Mountain pipeline, supporting fossil fuel expansion and dragging their feet on a just transition, the Liberal party has clearly shown they’re not interested in doing what it takes to put out this fire.”

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Contact: Cam Fenton, cam@350.org, 604-369-2155