a sibilant intake of breath

I’m not celebrating NDP premier John Horgan’s successful gamble on an election to secure a majority government. For one thing, I think minority governments which sometimes seek support from the Greens are likely to enact more responsible climate change policies. For another, I have been consistently frustrated by the NDP’s inconsistent and inadequate positions on climate change.

Both federally and provincially I think it would be desirable for the left-wing parties (Liberals, NDP, and Greens) to adopt a Pact for Humanity in which they pledge to at least keep in place their predecessors’ climate change mitigation policies. That would help give some certainty to industries, municipalities, and individuals who are deciding whether to invest in fossil fuel infrastructure or alternatives. Of course, there would still be uncertainty from possible future Conservative governments which will roll everything back, but it’s better than having the left remain split on what approach to take and left-wing parties competing with each other about whether to support industry at the expense of the environment, keep tightening carbon restrictions in line with the best scientific and economic advice, or keep jumping unproductively between one approach to GHG regulation and another.

Related:

• B.C. election: what Horgan’s NDP majority government means for climate and the environment
• 10 reasons why the B.C. NDP had its most successful election ever
• Their ‘Big Tent’ Just Collapsed. Can BC Liberals Make a New One?
• What lessons does John Horgan’s big B.C. election victory hold for Justin Trudeau?
• B.C. Premier John Horgan promises inclusive legislature, despite overwhelming majority

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