Vancouver Island's federal candidates say climate change is a top priority

British Columbians are going to the pollsin roughly six weeks to elect their representatives in Ottawa and data shows when they do, many will be prioritizing breathable air, clean water and provincial protections against drought, devastating wildfires and other consequences of climate change.

Polling data from the Angus Reid Institute shows the environment and climate change is the biggest concernforBritish Columbian voters, with 45per cent of those surveyed indicating it's apriority.

This could be one of the reasons why Vancouver Island candidates from the four major federal parties say climateis a key election issue for them as well.

"We've got the worst record in the G7. We have increased emissions by 20 per cent over 1990 levels," said Paul Manly, the incumbent Green Party of Canada candidate forNanaimo-Ladysmith.

Manlysaid bold action is needed and that theCanadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act passed by the current Liberal leadership is too weak. The act establishesa legally binding process to set five-year national emissions-reduction targets for 2030, 2035, 2040and 2045.

It also mandatesfrequent progress reports, an independent advisory body, and a 2026 emissions objective requiring a plan within six months after the bill passed which it did in June.

Manly says his party would do more, includingpass into law a Climate Change Act requiring a 60 per cent cut in climate-changing emissions below 2005 levels by 2030, reaching net zero in 2050.

"We should be shutting down all the the pipelines that are in construction right now and stopping all new fossil fuel infrastructure. And we need tore-gear our economy and start dealing with home energy retrofits, building retrofits across the country, and re-tooling and re-skilling our workers so that we can build the clean energy economy that we need to be able to survive," he told CBC's On The Island.

Nikki Macdonald, Victoria's Liberal Party candidate, says Justin Trudeau's team is on top of climate issues.

"People are really looking for a government that's going to do something on climate change. And the Liberals have already shown that they are," she said.

Macdonald says she has knocked on over 2,000 doors during the campaign periodand climate change is the No. 1issue people want to talk about.

• Clickhere for the Green Party's climate change plans and here for the Liberal's.

Of the 1,465 people surveyed by Angus Reid, 35per cent said they planned tovotefor the Liberal Party led byJustin Trudeau, followed by Erin O'Toole and theConservativesand then the NDP and Greens.

Conservative candidate Tamara Kronisis battling Manly for the Nanaimo-Ladysmith vote.

In April, O'Tooleproposedcharging a levy on fuel purchasesto fundpersonalized savings accountswhich Canadians can use for environmentally friendly purchases.

Instead of channelingthat moneyinto direct rebates to Canadian households, as is the case currently, the Conservatives would divert it to "personal low carbon savings accounts."

"We have a climate change plan this time around that really puts control overmaking change in the hands of ordinary Canadians," said Kronis.

She echoedManly with the sentiment that the Liberals are not doing enough.

Victoria NDPcandidate Laurel Collins wasquick to saythe same during a Tuesday radio interview.

"My focus has been on relentlessly pushing this Liberal government in a minority situation for bold action to protect our environment," said the incumbent.

Collins said she lednegotiations to strengthen their AccountabilityAct billthat resulted instronger accountability sooner.

Amajority of those surveyed by the Angus Reid Institute felt NDPLeader Jagmeet Singh was "best suited" to deal with climate change.

• Click here for the Conservative Party's climate change plans and here for the NDP's

In the last federal election, Vancouver Island and Powell River voters elected members of Parliament from the NDP and Green Party.Incumbent candidates for the NDP and Green party are seeking re-election in all sevenfederal ridings.

Canadians go to the polls on September 20.

We're answering your questions about climate change and the federal election. Send yours toask@cbc.ca, and we'll answer as many as we can leading up to election day.