Green Party Candidate Austin Mullins says he is committed to being the strong, responsive, and progressive representative that this community needs.

“I am running for economic diversification, meaningful climate action, and renewing the social contract between Canadians and the federal government, all while ensuring we balance the budget and maintain fiscal responsibility.”

He promises that the Green Party of Canada will maintain the federal carbon tax at a carbon fee and dividend.

“This will be revenue-neutral; a carbon fee and dividend imposes a carbon tax on the sale of fossil fuels, and then distributes the revenue of this tax over the entire population as a monthly income or regular payment.

“This will have four positive impacts: internalize the social cost of carbon-based fuels, rapidly achieve large emission reductions, stimulate the economy, and recruit global participation. That being said, the carbon fee and dividend is a very small part in our plan to tackle climate change in Canada. A carbon tax in itself is not a plan, but a proven and effective tool to drastically reduce carbon emissions,” said Mullins.

The Green Party of Canada has a 20-step climate action plan called “Mission: Possible”.

The Party’s plan states it will implement the integral recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report of 2018 that must hold global average temperature increase to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius against pre-industrial levels.

“We will achieve this by setting stringent new targets: 60 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050. We will declare a climate emergency; we will significantly invest and modernize the clean energy economy in Canada by shifting our focus from fossil fuels to wind, solar and geothermal energy in Alberta and we will develop a national west-east electricity grid to transport the energy produced,” explains Mullins, the political science graduate, originally from London, Ontario.

“We will ban fracking, end the import and export of oil, and make significant investments in reliable public transit to get more cars off the road. This is only a snapshot of our extensive plan to tackle climate crisis.”

After long days canvassing and talking with local residents Mullins said he found a number of concerns residents of the Bow Valley are facing.

“I believe that the lack of affordable housing for low-income, seasonal, and temporary workers in the Valley is an important issue that requires immediate attention by elected representatives in all levels of government.

“Additionally, I believe that sustainable development, small business, and wildlife conservation weigh heavily on a lot of residents in the Valley and I believe the Green Party of Canada has an extensive platform to address these concerns and more.”