Qubec Solidaire beefs up fight against climate change, boosts greenhouse gas targets

About 400Qubec Solidaire(QS) members gathered at an annual conventionthis weekend to lay the groundwork for whatthe party is calling its "greenest electoral platform in its history" ahead of next year's provincial election, slated for Oct. 3, 2022.

Members of the opposition partyvoted on some 20 proposals, in particular those that deal with the climate crisis.

The party votedto increase its greenhouse gas reduction target, setting it to55 per cent by 2030, up from the party's previous target of 45 per cent. The objective is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

In comparison, the Coalition Avenir Qubec(CAQ) government's current reduction target is 37.5 per cent by 2030.

At the QS convention, ideas aimed at nationalizing oil companies and the mining and forestry industry were rejected, as were those aimed at banning automobiles of all kinds by 2030.

A QS government would, however, be in favour of nationalizingrenewable energy industries, such as wind and solar power, in order to better plan for the overall needs of Quebec.

QS also promised it would ban the exploitation of hydrocarbons as well as create a public network of electric trains for passengers and goods.

To reduce wasteand increase the lifespan of products, QS said it wouldban planned obsolescence andlegislate to guarantee the right to repair goods.

Charges for companies that exploit drinking water for commercial purposes would also be increased significantly, party members voted.

At the opening of the convention, the party also announced its intention to ban "ultra-polluting" advertising, such as ads on fossil fuels and gasoline-powered sport utility vehicles (SUVs), as of 2022.

Qubec Solidaire expects to make gains

QS parliamentary leaderGabriel Nadeau-Dubois praised the seriousness of his party's approach to fighting climate change.

He said QS was not "just a party of great ideas, great values," but that it was going to make concrete proposals in order to improve people's lives from day to day.

"We do not boast," he insisted at the convention Saturday,adding he was convinced that the party would be able tocontinue its growthand makesignificant gains in the 2022 elections.

"We can be an ambitious party, for example in the fight against climate change, and be credible and rigorous in our proposals.This is the balance we want," he said.

While top CAQ political aides took no time in attacking the QS's goals, with senior CAQ advisor Stphane Gobeilcalling the party's targets "so not realistic," Nadeau-Duboisretaliated by saying the CAQis struggling to reach its own climate goals.

Nadeau-Dubois addedthatQSis not facing "an identity crisis," something he said he couldn't say for other parties.

"We know where we are going, we know what our project for Quebec is," he said.