Federal election candidate questions: alternative energy

In the days leading up to the federal election on October 19, we will be publishing the answers to questions posed by 2day FM to the candidates running in the Grande Prairie-Mackenzie riding. The responses are listed in alphabetical order and are unedited. They have not been fact checked and 2day FM is not responsible for any errors or inaccuracies.

Q: How will your party support the exploration of alternative energy sources, particularly in northwestern Alberta?

James Friesen, Green Party

A: As the small business party, the Green Party would encourage local business people, entrepreneurs, to look at and invest, in the exploration of alternative energy sources. Some of the funding that is currently being given to multi national Corporations, like the GM, Chrysler, Oil company’s ect, could be used to support local small business in their endeavor to develop  local alternative energy sources.

Reagan Johnston, Liberal Party

Liberals understand that the environment and creating a more sustainable future are among the most pressing challenges we face as Canadians.

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau will attend the Paris climate conference with the Premiers, and formally meet within 90 days to establish a pan-Canadian framework to reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change. We will also fulfill our G20 commitment and phase out subsidies for the fossil fuel industry.

To support both large and community-scale renewable energy projects, the new Canada Infrastructure Bank will issue Green Bonds to fund projects like electric vehicle charging stations and networks, transmission lines for renewable energy, building retrofits, and clean power storage.

Clean technology can deliver real benefits for our environment and our economy, including more good-quality middle class jobs. We will invest $200 million more each year to support innovation and the use of clean technologies in our natural resource and energy sectors. We will work closely with the provinces and territories to develop a Canadian Energy Strategy to protect Canada’s energy security, encourage energy conservation, and bring cleaner, renewable energy onto the electricity grid.

We will also launch an immediate, public review of Canada’s environmental assessment processes. Based on this review, a Liberal government will replace Mr. Harper’s changes to the environmental assessment process with a new, comprehensive, timely, and fair process. As part of this review, we will modernize and rebuild trust in the National Energy Board by ensuring it has broad regional representation and sufficient expertise in fields such as environmental science, community development, and Indigenous traditional knowledge.

Saba Mossagizi, NDP

We want to provide the support necessary for exploration by creating an innovation tax credit and giving small businesses in these fields incentives to do so.

Dylan Thompson, Libertarian Party

A: Alternative energy is a noble cause and a country with greater economic freedom would bring prosperity and opportunity to many noble causes in society, like alternative energy development.

Chris Warkentin, Conservative Party