These Ontario voters want climate change to be a bigger issue in this federal election
Climate change 'an existential threat to humanity generally,' says Sacha Adkins, Kitchener-Conestoga voter
When Sacha Adkins looks at her children, she sees more than the present — she sees a future marred by rising temperatures and political inaction.
A voter in Kitchener-Conestoga in Ontario, Adkins told CBC News that climate change has become difficult to ignore since becoming a parent.
"You're just really aware of the world that your kids are going to grow up in," she said.
Adkins is worried the world her children will live in as adults will be very different from the one we live in now, adding it's "already very different from the one the generation of our parents grew up in."
The headlines in this federal election campaign have been dominated by talk of tariffs and Canada's relationship with the United States, but some voters who spoke to CBC News said climate and environmental policies remain a top concern for them as they decide who to vote for on April. 28.
Adkins said climate action right now is "pretty bleak" and she wants to see more immediate efforts from politicians.
"I'm concerned political parties and our politicians are much more concerned about other things rather than climate, which is where our focus should be," she said.
Kitchener Centre voter Emily Janet said she feels the focus of politicians running in this federal election is too divided.
"There is no point in addressing all of the other electoral concerns if we don't actually meaningfully address climate change in the process," she said.
Janet said that while people in Waterloo region might not be as affected by climate disasters, like hurricanes and forest fires, the area can still feel their effects.
"We don't get all of our food from Waterloo region … we get a massive amount of food from California," said Janet, adding, "there's only so many places in the world you can grow grapefruit, for example."
Bridget Lewis, also from Kitchener Centre, shared a similar view.
"Even though there's some very serious things we're facing in the long term, we still, every single day, have to be concerned about what's going on with climate action," she said.
"The tariff thing might go away, Donald Trump won't be president in four years, but if we don't deal with climate action now, I feel so sorry for the children and grandchildren of the future."
Local groups push for governmental action
Waterloo region is home to a number of environmental organizations advocating for climate policy.
They include the Grand River Environmental Network (GREN), a collective of organizations working to protect the Grand River watershed, covering an area from Dundalk to Lake Erie.
Kevin Thomason, GREN's vice-chair, said the group's advocacy involves working directly with local communities who want to bring their concerns or plans of action to government officials.
"We have all the solutions we need for climate change right now," he said. "We know what we need to do. We know how to do it."
Thomason said it's a matter of getting politicians to take action.
"Most Canadians are expecting our government to be doing more to address climate change and a better, stronger, resilient future, not less," he said in an interview with CBC News.
Thomason said he also wants assurances from federal parties that Canada won't follow the same regressive attitude on climate change that he sees south of the border.
"We see an administration in the U.S. right now that is dismantling every environmental and climate initiative they can, withdrawing from the Paris accord and such," he said.
Thomason expressed urgency that voters ask their candidates questions and listen to what they say about climate change.
"You know, 2050, when we hear so many of these dire predictions on the climate front, is closer to us now than the year 2000."
Another active group is the Tri-Cities Transport Action Group (TriTAG), which pushes for more alternatives to car travel and more sustainable transportation infrastructure.
TriTAG Board member Michael Druker said to think of cars as metal boxes that require a lot of infrastructure.
"They involve a lot of operational costs, involve a ton of space that causes everything to be further apart," he said. "It's a lot of resources and it's a lot of emissions to do something that there are other ways to do in cities."
As Waterloo region grows, Druker's group wants to preserve green areas while still improving transportation options. He said his group will be looking for parties that say they'll provide federal funding to help capital projects like Kitchener Central Transit Hub and phase two of the Ion LRT into Cambridge get off the ground.
"The basic aspect of how we get around matters a great deal," Druker said.
What the federal party platforms say
When it comes to climate action plans, there are some big differences between the major parties.
Conservatives say they want to repeal all carbon pricing, including on larger industrial emitters. Their alternative is to expand incentives like tax credits for businesses that reduce emissions and use clean energy.
They're also supportive of an east-west pipeline and promoters of the use of liquefied natural gas.
- To compare other election promises in this election, check out this CBC News interactive election article.
The Liberal Party cut the consumer carbon tax before the election. The party says it also wants to increase incentives, but their focus is on consumers. They said they would reintroduce things like the electric vehicle subsidy.
The Liberals are open to pipelines and speeding up energy projects, but they want Quebec to reserve the right to veto any pipeline that goes through their territory.
Liberals also say they would phase out the use of fossil fuels in federal buildings by 2030.
The NDP was in favour of removing the consumer carbon tax, but the party's platform says they plan to keep the commercial carbon tax in place.
The party says it would also introduce a border carbon adjustment price on imports from countries who don't use the same carbon pricing on its own goods.
The NDP isn't necessarily anti-pipeline but also wants Quebec to reserve the right to veto a pipeline on its land.
New Democrats wants to focus on an east-west electricity grid, which is something the Green Party is also pushing for.
The Green Party also hopes to remove interprovincial trade barriers to energy trade.
It says it wants to cut subsidies for oil and gas companies and invest in clean energy instead, aiming to stop all new fossil fuel projects.
What voters want
When it comes to climate action, Adkins, Janet and Lewis say they're looking for more than just promises. They're asking for clear, funded plans.
"I just see climate change as an existential threat to humanity generally, and I think it's not really being taken seriously enough," Adkins said.
Whether it's investments in transit, protecting natural areas, or legislation that puts the climate first, climate-conscious voters and environmental organizations are watching closely.
CBC K-W wants to hear from you in this federal election. Please fill out our voter survey to tell us about your top issues.
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With files from CBC Ottawa