Climate Action Network Canada congratulates PM Carney on election win

Unceded Anishinaabe Algonquin Territories [OTTAWA], 29 April 2025:

After a turbulent few months in federal politics, the election results are in, and Canadians have elected the Liberal Party to form government. Climate Action Network Canada (CAN-Rac) congratulates Prime Minister Mark Carney, and urges him to use this opportunity to build a fairer, more resilient society grounded in reliable, renewable Canadian solutions.

Prime Minister Carney has long been involved in climate initiatives; now, he has the chance to enact change at a national scale to make Canadians’ lives safer, healthier, and more affordable.

“Canadians want the next government to do more on climate action; the polls have shown it, and now the election results have confirmed it,” said Caroline Brouillette, Executive Director of CAN-Rac.

“With the election over, Prime Minister Carney has the opportunity to practice what he has preached for years, and kickstart a green transformation that will build our country’s resilience for decades to come. That requires picking a lane with regard to energy: no more flirting with fossil fuel expansion and new pipelines, which would come with staggering costs to our wallets and our planet. Instead, the new federal government must focus its attention on building a renewable-powered electricity grid as the backbone of a new economy in line with Canadian values.”

CAN-Rac also congratulates the climate champion MPs across parties who have been elected. If the final vote counts result in a minority government, opposition parties will have significant leverage; the Bloc québecois, NDP and Green Party, who all had strong climate platforms this election, must use it to push the government to greater ambition and accountability.

• See CAN-Rac’s election priorities and demands for all parties

• See CAN-Rac’s new Substack, The Political Climate, for further analysis of parties’ election commitments on climate

Further quotes:

Joy Kennedy, Canadian Interfaith Fast For the Climate:

“Canadians clearly expressed their faith in the future and their determination to overcome fear with hope and love. May your new government uphold our deep desire for a climate friendly world that values strong community, and celebrates diversity.”

Andrea Koehle Jones, Executive Director, The ChariTree Foundation:

“Congratulations, Prime Minister Carney. Now more than ever, young Canadians are counting on bold climate action and courageous leadership to secure their future. You’ve got this!”

Seth Klein, Director of Climate Emergency Strategy and Team Lead, Climate Emergency Unit:

“Crises are no time for timidity. If we are really going to expedite the transition to a “made-in-Canada” economy at speed and scale, then we are going to have to do much of it ourselves, through brash public investments and public enterprises.”

Anne-Catherine Bajard, Executive Director, BC Council for International Cooperation:

“Decarbonize, demilitarize, decolonize. It can be done, we can be the actor on the global scene that we say we are!”

Ann McAllister, Chair, Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick (CRED-NB):

“The Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick applauds your focus on renewable energy and we look forward to an immediate end to subsidies for the fossil fuel and nuclear industries.”

Christy Ferguson, Executive Director, Greenpeace Canada:

“Canadians have rejected a Trump-style agenda that sought to put billionaires before affordability, put fossil fuel interests ahead of climate protection, and scapegoat the most vulnerable people in our society. Now, it’s up to Prime Minister Carney to live up to his commitments and show Canadians that he’s ready to show real leadership on climate, nature, and justice— by standing up to Trump, building green, affordable housing, protecting biodiversity, and creating an east-west energy grid that harnesses renewable energy to power our homes, workplaces and transportation systems.”

Kim Perrotta, Executive Director, Canadian Health Association for Sustainability and Equity:

“It is time to build an economy that makes life healthy and affordable for people across the country while preserving a liveable planet for our children.”

Cathy Orlando, National Director, Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada:

“Canadians deserve climate action that puts people first—building safer, healthier communities and a stronger, fairer economy. We urge bold, collaborative leadership rooted in justice.”

Angela Bischoff, Director, Ontario Clean Air Alliance:

“We look forward to working with you to usher in a 100% renewable energy future for Canada.”

Amara Possian, Canada Team Lead, 350.org:

“Like millions of Canadians, I’m relieved we stopped a Pierre Poilievre victory–but now the real work begins. Prime Minister Carney says we must do the impossible at speeds we haven’t seen in generations, and that starts with leaving fossil fuel nostalgia behind. To protect Canada from climate chaos and Trump’s trade war, he must invest in the clean energy future we deserve.”

Zoe Grams, Executive Director, Climate Caucus:

“Hundreds of local elected leaders have asked our new government to enact bold, achievable policies that will protect Canadians from the dual threats of tariffs and climate change. From coast to coast to coast, we’re hearing Elbows Up for Climate. There’s never been a greater opportunity to be deeply ambitious for our shared futures, create a jobs boom in every community, and address the growing climate threats to our communities.”

Dr. Melissa Lem, President, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment:

“Prime Minister Mark Carney’s climate decisions will determine the health of Canadians for generations to come. Clean energy choices will create healthier air for our children to breathe, greater safety and stability for communities and more resilient healthcare systems. On the other hand, continued fossil fuel expansion will lead to more respiratory illness, heat-related deaths, and mental health impacts from climate disasters. I urge the Prime Minister to seize this opportunity to realize a healthier future for all.”

Dr. Paul Kershaw, Founder, Generation Squeeze & UBC policy professor:

“Our kids are trusting us to do more – not less – to protect the planet’s health, because their lives and livelihoods literally depend on it. Let’s not betray that trust by abandoning our responsibility to clean up our pollution messes. We’re calling on Canada’s next Prime Minister to organize all policy and budget decisions around the goal of leaving a healthy climate legacy to the generations who follow us.”

Wyanne Sandler, National Network Director, For Our Kids:

“We need the new government to act to protect the people and places that we love. We need them to act with urgency for a just transition and a livable future for our kids. This means investing in real climate solutions, rapidly transitioning away from fossil fuels, respecting Indigenous sovereignty and implementing free, prior and informed consent.”

Jared Blustein, Executive Director, Calgary Climate Hub:

“We congratulate Mark Carney on his recent election victory, and look forward to his government advancing climate and Indigenous reconciliation priorities.”

Jessica Clogg, Executive Director & Senior Counsel, West Coast Environmental Law Association:

“This election was not just about standing strong against threats to our economy and sovereignty, it was an election about Canadians’ vision of our future. As our new federal government begins the important work of moving us forward, it needs to recognize that building a resilient economy and defending our sovereignty must go hand-in-hand with strong legal action to safeguard our climate, protect nature and ensure the health and wellbeing of Canadians. Prime Minister Carney needs to lead us into the future, and the future is renewables, upholding inherent Indigenous rights and a healed relationship with nature, not more risky fossil fuel and pipeline projects.”

Liz McDowell, Senior Campaigns Director, Stand.earth:

“Prime Minister Carney faces a fork in the road as Canada stares down threats from the Trump administration, a cost-of-living crisis, and devastating extreme weather events. We hope his experience with climate policy and economics leads him to choose the path that safeguards ecosystems and creates a more resilient society for all. Canada can create a wealth of good, secure jobs in renewable energy. Canada can uphold the rights of Indigenous peoples and give communities a say. We can keep rare forests standing. We can build low-carbon homes. We can steer investments and subsidies away from fossil fuels and towards green energy. But this new government must be bold if we are to move forward, not backwards.”

Linda Nowlan, Acting Executive Director, David Suzuki Foundation:

“This is a moment for national unity and we call on all MPs to find common cause in safeguarding the environment. We all need clean air, safe water and a stable climate. Protecting the environment is about protecting our loved ones, homes and future. The new government can advance Canada’s national interests in the face of threats with win-win solutions: climate and nature policies that create jobs, improve affordability, protect the wildlife and spaces we love and ensure we all have a healthy future. Canada’s economy and security depend on a healthy environment.”

David Roy, Executive Director, Workshops for Biodiversity:

“Canada committed itself, notably at COP15, to building an economy that respects nature. It is crucial to accelerate the integration of biodiversity and climate into all government decisions, at all levels, and to encourage other levels of government and business to do the same, in order to enable transformative change. This requires clear legislation and even more ambitious policies. Federal leadership can position Canada as a world leader, by fostering collaboration between all actors.”

Kim Fry, Coordinator, Music Declares Emergency Canada:

“We have wasted too much time debating and dragging our feet. We need this new parliament to get us back on course for ambitious and necessary climate action. This includes building a robust and ambitious youth climate corps and supporting the cultural sector and the arts to take more leadership on climate action.”

Maryo Wahba, Climate Justice Policy Analyst at Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ):

“The recent electoral results offer a pivotal moment to reaffirm Canada’s commitment to environmental protection. We urge the government to safeguard existing environmental legislation and advance climate justice by fully implementing the polluter pays principle, ensuring that those responsible for pollution bear the full costs of their actions. This approach is essential to address the escalating costs and impacts of the climate crisis and to promote a fair, just, and sustainable future for all Canadians.”

Glenn Wright, Saskatchewan Coalition for Sustainable Development:

“Canadians want parties to work together to solve big problems like our environmental crises. But the winner-take-all electoral system incentivizes parties to fight each other tooth and nail. That fighting has undermined important climate policies, like pollution pricing for example. Electoral reform is long overdue and our organization urges your government to strengthen our democracy so that we can enact the bold policies necessary to urgently address the climate crisis.”

Shanaaz Gokool, Executive Director, Leadnow:

“With the threat of Trump’s economic war, Carney must pivot from the status quo and take this opportunity to ensure Canada invests in a sustainable future that puts people over profits, defunds fossil fuel investments for billionaire oil and gas companies and destructive extractive projects, and put us on a path to a resilient, independent green economy that supports our workers and brings affordability to our communities. Do better now.”

Rébecca Pétrin, Executive Director, Eau Secours:

“Historically, Canada has always excluded freshwater from trade negotiations. Water is not a commodity — it is vital for ecosystems. Canada must uphold this position, strengthen water protection through federal legislation, and fulfill its international political commitments, especially in support of the neighboring states of the Great Lakes.”

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