Matt Horne, Director of British Columbia Energy Solutions for the Pembina Institute, made the following statement in response to the British Columbia budget tabled today:

"Fresh off the Olympics, British Columbians were looking for big strides toward a clean energy economy. But continued carbon tax loopholes combined with oil and gas subsidies amount to a near $700 million lost opportunity in these investments."

Media Contact: Matt Horne

Topic Area: British Columbia: Climate Change

The B.C. government should strengthen its carbon tax in the 2010 budget, according to a set of recommendations released by the Pembina Institute.

Media Contact: Matt Horne

Topic Area: British Columbia: Climate Change, British Columbia: Other

Matt Horne, Director of the Pembina Institute's British Columbia Energy Solutions Program, made the following statement in response to the City of Vancouver's announcement that it is on track to meet its 2010 emissions reduction targets (six per cent below 1990 levels):

"Pembina applauds Vancouver's climate progress, which demonstrates that successful efforts to reduce greenhouse gas pollution go hand in hand with economic opportunity."

Media Contact: Matt Horne

Topic Area: British Columbia: Climate Change

In its environmental review of the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline project, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency will not be considering the major environmental impacts of the 30 per cent increase in average daily oil sands output that the pipeline will enable.

Media Contact: Karen Campbell

Topic Area: British Columbia: Climate Change

Matt Horne, Director of British Columbia Energy Solutions for the Pembina Institute, made the following statement in response to the British Columbia budget tabled today:

"The province missed an opportunity to continue building British Columbia's green economy in today's provincial budget. Instead of enhancing efforts to encourage greener choices and investments, the budget sends mixed signals on the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and maintains a reliance on unpredictable fossil fuel resource revenues."

Media Contact: Matt Horne

Topic Area: British Columbia: Climate Change, British Columbia: Other

The EnCana Cabin Gas Plant proposed for northeast British Columbia could emit 2.2 million tonnes of greenhouse gases per year - the equivalent of adding almost 450,000 cars to British Columbia roads.

Media Contact: Matt Horne

Topic Area: British Columbia: Climate Change

With progressive measures like North America's most ambitious carbon tax to date and a ban on dirty coal-fired electricity, B.C. has established itself as a climate leader in Canada. Premier Campbell’s re-election shows that the support of British Columbians for bold action on climate change brings political as well as economic opportunity.

Media Contact: Matt Horne

Topic Area: British Columbia: Climate Change

West Coast Environmental Law and the Pembina Institute offer voters accessible guides to the three major parties’ positions on a range of key environmental issues; from fish farms to carbon pricing, from energy to forestry, from environmental assessment to transportation.

Media Contact: Karen Campbell, Matt Horne

Topic Area: British Columbia: Other

Matt Horne, Director of BC Energy Solutions for the Pembina Institute, made the following statement in response to the BC NDP's media release claiming that the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy "rejects carbon tax in favour of cap & trade": "The National Round Table report says that Canada needs an economy-wide price on carbon as soon as possible. Experts agree that this could be accomplished through either a carbon tax or a cap and trade system. The Round Table is opting for cap and trade only to align with federal government policy."

Media Contact: Matt Horne

Topic Area: British Columbia: Climate Change, British Columbia: Other

Living Oceans Society, the Pembina Institute, and ForestEthics are calling on the federal government to significantly strengthen the proposed environmental assessment for the proposed Enbridge Gateway Pipeline.

Media Contact: Forest Ethics, Karen Campbell, Living Oceans Society

Topic Area: British Columbia: Climate Change, British Columbia: Mining, British Columbia: Other

Matt Horne, B.C. Energy Solutions Director for the Pembina Institute, made the following statement in response to the release of the B.C. Liberals’ election platform: "The Liberals are sticking with the core components of their climate plan including the ban on dirty coal-fired electricity, cap and trade legislation, and British Columbia's carbon tax. . ."

Media Contact: Karen Campbell, Matt Horne

Topic Area: British Columbia: Climate Change