Whitehorse Daily Star

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A NEW FUTURE – Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Ranj Pillai and Environment Minister Pauline Frost release the draft proposal Thursday on how the Yukon will fight climate change over the next 10 years. Input on the draft is being accepted until Jan. 17.

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Photo by Chuck Tobin

SETTING THE SCENE – Senior project manager Aletta Leitch of the government’s Climate Change Secretariat explains the decade-long plans to members of the media Thursday.

Series of ambitious greenhouse gas controls unveiled

The Yukon government has released a comprehensive draft proposal to substantially slash the territory’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the next 10 years.

By Chuck Tobin on November 15, 2019

The Yukon government has released a comprehensive draft proposal to substantially slash the territory’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the next 10 years.

It proposes 6,000 electric vehicles in use by 2030, or one of every six passenger vehicles on Yukon roads.

It sets out the target of getting 1,500 houses off heating fuel by installing common ground source electric heat pumps that suck the heat out of the ground. The program would require that the home had been retrofitted to maximize energy efficiency.

The strategy talks about reducing the dependency on diesel generation in off-grid communities by 30 per cent.

The publicly-owned Yukon Energy Corp. will be directed to ensure 93 per cent of the electricity it produces for the main grid will come from renewable energy sources by 2030, just as it is today, says the proposal, titled Our Clean Future.

It says encouraging the use of biofuels – a mix of diesel with fuel produced from organics – in the transportation sector will on its own cut 57 kilotonnes of GHGs or 20 per cent of the emission target.

Increasing the use of organically produced ethanol as a clean gasoline will cut another 11 kilotonnes.

The draft not only speaks to the reduction of greenhouse gases but also talks about the need to prepare for and adapt to the impact of climate change. Especially in the Yukon and across the North, where warming is occurring three times faster than anywhere else in the world.

“If we are going to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and ensure that we have access to reliable, affordable renewable energy, we have to be ambitious,” Ranj Pillai, the Energy, Mines and Resources minister, told a press conference held Thursday morning to release the proposal.

“This is why the draft strategy proposes that we continue to have 93 per cent of the electricity on the main Yukon grid from renewable sources, even as demand grows.

“... By 2030, we will also meet 40 per cent of our heating needs with renewable energy sources.”

Environment Minister Pauline Frost told the news conference the strategy has been developed over the last two years in partnership with Yukon First Nations, transboundary First Nations and municipalities.

It is a territorial effort that reflects the need to work together to make lasting change, said Frost.

“Responding to climate change will be complex and require a breadth of input and expertise, and collective action,” the minister noted.

“What we are proposing today is an ambitious Yukon-wide strategy that demonstrates action across the territory to respond to a changing climate.

“I encourage all Yukoners to share their thoughts on Our Clean Future and help shape Yukon’s next 10 years.”

Technical staff who held a briefing following the announcement by the two ministers pointed out that input on the draft proposal will be accepted until Jan. 17.

Senior project manager Aletta Leitch of the government’s Climate Change Secretariat said it will take some time to analyze the feedback in preparation of a final recommendation to the territorial cabinet.

It’s likely Our Clean Future – A Yukon strategy for climate change, energy and a green economy, will be finalized in early to mid-2020, she said.

Our Clean Future is the product of two years of research and collaboration. It began in 2017 after the Attorney-General of Canada found the Yukon could be doing more than it was to combat climate change.

The draft proposal calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 30 per cent lower than they were in 2010.

Back then, the territory was pumping out annually just under 600 kilotonnes of GHG emissions related to human activity.

The most recent hard calculation in 2017 estimated the output at 620 kilotonnes.

On a per capita basis, Yukoners generate the sixth-highest amount of GHGs in the country, the proposal points out.

Today, it’s estimated the territory’s output is about 620 kilotonnes annually. To achieve the 30 per cent reduction compared to 2010 levels will mean cutting emissions by 262 kilotonnes over the next 10 years.

The draft proposal indicates that implementing the 142 action plans laid out in Our Clean Future will get the territory three-quarters of the way there. It’s expected the remaining 62 kilotonnes will be reduced through improvements in technology over the next 10 years, as well as through adjustments of ongoing programs to maximize benefits.

The technical staff explained that having 6,000 electric cars on athe road by 2030 is not unrealistic. Yukoners could be encouraged through rebate programs like the federal rebate program of $5,000 announced last spring, or the $3,000 rebate B.C. is providing.

It will require some buy-in from Yukoners, but combating climate change will require buy-in from everybody to a certain degree, they suggested.

The proposal points out, for instance, that increasing the use of public transit and active transportation like cycling is expected to reduce GHGs by six kilotonnes over the next 10 years.

The proposal notes the Yukon government is committed to ensuring half of the vehicles it purchases going forward will be zero-emissions vehicles. It also cites the need for the government to establish a territory-wide network of charging stations if it expects to stimulate more interest in electric vehicles.

Leitch said the rough estimate of the costs associated with achieving the 30 per cent reduction is in the neighbourhood of $450 million over the 10 years. It includes federal and territorial money currently committed to ongoing energy efficiency programs but it calls for new money, new commitments, she explained.

Leitch said they estimate the federal government will contribute about two-thirds of the cost.

Comments (33)

Up 1 Down 0

Y. U. Mayendeed on Nov 22, 2019 at 9:14 pm

@ If I May Ask - The money is going to the same place as the funds that are supposed to go to the Canadian Pension Plan are going - Somewhere else!

Up 3 Down 1

Scott on Nov 21, 2019 at 2:24 pm

@High priced PJs

Climb out from under your rock.
More than two-thirds of people around the world work away from the office at least once every week, according to researchers.

A study released Tuesday by Zug, Switzerland-based serviced office provider IWG found that 70 percent of professionals work remotely — a phenomenon known as telecommuting — at least one day a week, while 53 percent work remotely for at least half of the week.

The ability to work from home and the emergence of digital office rental services has led to changing attitudes around where people should work and whether they should stick to the traditional nine-to-five working hours.

Up 2 Down 16

Moose on Nov 20, 2019 at 10:47 pm

@Salt
"The sociopaths that run government and the media are not your friends and cannot be trusted."

This is one of the reasons (on top of the mountains of evidence and all of the world's scientific institutions who agree that humans are causing this current climate change) that no one takes climate deniers serious. On top of you thinking that climate change is a vast conspiracy, you also have other wacky theories and ideas about the world out to get you. Better go back down into your fortified bunker before the gubmint comes to get ya!

Up 9 Down 1

High priced PJs on Nov 20, 2019 at 8:01 pm

@Scott, so the idea to save a few carbons is to let one of the most expensive labour forces stay home and work from there. Maybe we could buy them the newest and best computer, pay for their cell phone and internet while we’re at it. You might have a problem with the ones that have to go to work as some still interact with the public. I guess you could pay them an extra bonus for actually coming to work. I think the other 50% of the workforce may not be on board either. They will still be driving to work, paying the government’s carbon tax while the stay at home people just cash their carbon rebate cheque’s.
But just in case you haven’t figured it out. Even if you sent all these people to Vancouver and worked remotely it is not going to make one bit of difference in the warming of the Yukon, Canada, or the world. All we can do is be responsible with waste of all kinds, and do the best we can.

Up 26 Down 4

... If I may ask? on Nov 20, 2019 at 4:27 pm

How is it suddenly that airplanes contribute less pollution?

For the gamers in the crowd; you must be aware of "micro transactions."
This was successful in the e-world and is now being brought into the real world. Setup a series of "small pays" that seem trivial. Specific to the Yukon we have the introduction of the tire levy, e waste fee, (plastic bags?), and the carbon tax. Each of those pull a small amount away, which leads to a large amount.

My question is, with that money that is coming in; has anything changed? Are our tires being recycled differently? Are we seeing less plastic? Are people burning less fuel? --- but moreover, where has that money gone?

My "real" opinion is that the Canadian economy is hitting the precipice for catastrophe. Once you hit 50% of the population paying for 100% of it; the economy dies. There is no incentive to work. These taxes are a simple way to bolster the economy, shame people into paying, and remove the government from the private person's pocket. The private person just pays more while businesses are being used to collect it.
Meanwhile, the largest polluting industries go unchecked. The Yukon promotes tourism, an industry that has the least return for carbon creation. 1 litre of fuel burned at a mine actually creates a dollar. 1 litre of fuel burned by a tourist, is simple leisure. Combine that with consumption and waste; tourism is the worst industry for the environment. But we need money!

If you're worried about the environment, start lessening routes for airplanes or tax heavier on them. Tax tourists from Skagway at the border (for using a cruise ship). Tax all shipping.


The auto industry has seen a 90% increase in efficiency from their motors between 1950 - present. At a cost in the billions


Yet, airplanes and ships are able to run around with technology/engines that have tech that hasn't advanced since the 1950's


I'll also add, if you go to electric buses, research Berlin. They had to add diesel generators (unregulated diesel burning) because the buses couldn't heat + cool adequately and still make a full trip.

Up 24 Down 4

Scott on Nov 19, 2019 at 1:09 pm

The government could easily hit its target by having YG employees work from home. This would reduce carbon gassing from cars and reduce the energy use at all YG buildings. Done.

Up 7 Down 42

Arturs on Nov 19, 2019 at 5:58 am

WTG Ministers Frost and Pillai none of these nattering nabobs of negativism (spiro agnew) could do as good a job or wear your shoes. Keep up the progressive work.

Up 30 Down 4

Salt on Nov 18, 2019 at 11:02 pm

You people that profess the woke gospel of anthropomorphic climate change are the equivalent of losing a cousin to a cult. You probably used to be anti-war, but empire rages across the planet without a peep now. You probably used to be against industrial pollution that is slowly killing the plant, but now that’s all been co-opted into the all encompassing evils of proportionally small increase in a natural gas. You probably can understand and agree that an economic/financial system that is dependant on eternal growth is inherently not sustainable and antithetical to a balanced ecosystem, yet you promote systematic immigration that is meant to sustain economic growth (interest payments on debt) in countries that had naturally began to stabilize their population numbers. Please come back, we miss you. The sociopaths that run government and the media are not your friends and cannot be trusted.

Up 36 Down 9

Guncache on Nov 18, 2019 at 5:19 pm

The typical Liberal government running scared from teenage Greta. The climate scare is the same as the Y2K scare

Up 30 Down 5

Dave on Nov 18, 2019 at 2:02 pm

@Miles E. Don Cherry is more than 40 years my senior but I’m proud to be mentioned in the same sentence as that great Canadian. As a multi generational Canadian and native Yukoner I’ll take it as a compliment, thank you.

Up 36 Down 9

Al on Nov 18, 2019 at 10:50 am

I always find it rather ironical that when climate change advocates are challenged their collective retort to those challenging is the "you are a climate change denier". I suspect we will always have the negative extremism from the "believers" that if you don't subscribe to their thinking then somehow you are evil, un-trusted, un-Canadian or some other such heckling remark. I also realize that some are panic driven perhaps based on what appears to be a mob mentality.

OK, I can subscribe to the issue of climate change - more so because in "fact" it is evolutionary. Just as the sun rises everyday in the east and sets in the west. I don't want to belittle anyone's belief of what they fear but rather note what I have and do see does not lend to joining the chicken little theorists bandwagon. However if folks wish to submit to that theory then have a go at it. It does not mean that having a different view, and based on a different scientific analysis, that someone else is wrong.

I suspect that I will not convince anyone differently from what they believe. Fine. I submit to all is to really, really look at the past for the clues to what is occurring and what we should expect in the future. There are definitive periods in our past where there has been rapid change in climate both regionally and globally. What we need to collective remember is that the disasters of yesterday are not much different than today. Nor are the intensity of some, or even frequency. Notice how many hurricanes we had this year? Does that mean a reversing trend? I doubt it; but do think on what it means, or doesn't mean. Be open minded and analytical without being drawn into the mob mentality is what I caution. Likely there will be some that will espouse if you don't then you will be labelled a non-believer - or a denier. God forbid.

Up 36 Down 5

Juniper Jackson on Nov 18, 2019 at 8:41 am

Wood cutter: Why do you think giving the government more money is a genuine protest? The whole Carbon thing is just about money. The carbon tax collected goes into 'general revenue' and is about money. Trudeau has the country living on credit, paying 1 billion dollars a month in interest charges. Our 2018 tax revenue was gone by 2017. We have NO money. Income tax generates once a year. GST and Carbon generate daily. Trudeau has introduced an 'off set'. He took 2 planes during the election. BUT, he bought an off set. He took 2 planes from one airport to another airport in Quebec because he didn't want to deal with the traffic. The moral to the carbon tax is pollute ALL you want, just pay a little bit more for it. The rich will be warm and toasty, living like they have always lived, the working guy, seniors with pensions, are the ones that will keep the country afloat..at a high cost to themselves. They will be paying 70% of their income into some kind of taxation. This tax was about nothing but the money.

There is climate change. But they need money now. So it's an emergency.

Up 37 Down 5

Gringo on Nov 18, 2019 at 6:35 am

http://business.financialpost.com/opinion/we-need-to-stop-pretending-the-paris-agreement-will-fix-the-climate-crisis

Basically why are we about to tax the bejesus out of us while other countries like China and the like are increasing their emissions. It does not make sense.

Up 37 Down 5

Reality on Nov 17, 2019 at 10:11 pm

@Woodcutter, it seems as soon as one disagrees with the carbon tax or this Liberal “green” plan you immediately jump to the climate denier or conservative supporter that only cares about money or entitlement. How about the fact that the Territorial and Federal governments are selling the carbon tax as a revenue neutral or worse yet, getting back more than you pay. I’m sure that works if you don’t drive, don’t heat your house, don’t buy groceries. But to the average Yukoner they pay much more than the 40 bucks they get. Or the fact they have no vision for expanding our power grid other than buying a battery to save power they purchase from taxpayer funded solar or wind installations at almost double what they sell it for. How is the math working on that? Sort of carbon tax magic again. 6000 electric cars in 10 years? How much will that cost the taxpayers and where do they plan on plugging them in? Majority of the vehicles in the Yukon are pickups and only Tesla has one even close to production. Or the idea that making buildings more efficient. How much insulation can you pay for? Everyone wants cheaper housing, while their plan will make them cost more. So no, it’s not entitlement. It’s expecting results for the already high taxes we pay.

Up 39 Down 3

Boyd Campbell on Nov 17, 2019 at 7:18 pm

Funny lot we humans. The issues we should be alarmed about are left fallow. Lots of serious issues here in Yukon that need answers and solutions. How about doing the things we can control and make a difference? But no. We take up the global issues where there are no decisions to be made at our level. Individually and collectively we are doing our part, for a low density population of 40K in a world of 7.5 B.
For you folks who run for public office- your concern and commitment is appreciated BUT DO THE JOB YOU WERE ELECTED TO DO. The feel good fluffy stuff we can do without as there is a raft of issues you are avoiding.

Up 8 Down 36

Miles Epanhauser on Nov 17, 2019 at 6:36 pm

Mitch is the voice of reason, we need more tax incentives so that more people can afford hybrid and electric vehicles.

Dave who sees the solution as eliminating the 250,000 immigrants who annually come to Canada gets the Don Cherry award.

Up 13 Down 56

Woodcutter on Nov 17, 2019 at 10:36 am

@Josie and all the other conservative climate change deniers and carbon tax complainers. Show your true spirit of protest to the issue and return your Carbon Tax cheque to Ottawa, to register your protest.

Doubt that will ever happen. When it comes down to it, for conservatives, it's all about the money and preserving their entitlements and everyone and everything else can go to H E double hockey sticks

Up 40 Down 10

Matthew on Nov 17, 2019 at 4:58 am

Juniper Jackson... thank you.. that list you provided is a very short list of failed "facts" once used by the gov to keep us in a state of fear and control. Wake up people, if you all cared so dearly about the environment you would all be making a big deal about the tones of toxic carcinogenic chemicals being sprayed over our soils and food.. but hey, the change from 350ppm to 400ppm of Co2 in atmosphere is really driving the climate.. LOL!
P.S. green house food growers use Co2 to stimulate growth.. hmm why?

Up 58 Down 8

Obi on Nov 16, 2019 at 5:12 pm

I’ll believe there’s climate change, when the people that say there is a climate change, start acting like there is climate change....
So set an example for all of us minions to follow! Tell all government employees to park their cars and walk or ride horses to work. They won’t do that, but they expect everybody else to change there lifestyle to satisfy the Greta lemmings, sky is falling jargon.
Stop brow beating Yukoners with our coming doomsday, and spend your time convincing the real culprits that are causing the problem, like China, India etc.
What 35,000 people are going to achieve in the Yukon, except a rosy feeling of accomplishment in the larger scheme of things, is laughable and a waste of tax dollars.

Up 44 Down 7

Max Mack on Nov 16, 2019 at 5:05 pm

Grandstanding, virtue-signalling idiots. The lot of them. How else can you describe this lunacy? Please point me to the obvious deaths and destruction caused by the so-called "climate emergency"?

We could immediately stop all fossil fuel use in the Yukon (which would mean most of us would starve or freeze to death) and CO2 levels would not diminish one iota. The Yukon's contribution to CO2 relative to the world amounts to practically zero. Meanwhile, the major CO2 producing nations will continue to dump gigatons of CO2 into the atmosphere.

This plan is sure to dramatically increase the cost of living in the Yukon, making life more difficult for everyone but the pampered elite who can afford to buy a subsidized EV so they can "fuel up" at free charging stations on the public dime. These are the same people who live in R2000 houses and are able to take advantage of energy retrofit programs.
I'm betting this ambitious plan will cost at least a billion dollars -- not counting the massive spike in the cost-of-living that is sure to follow.

Up 42 Down 11

North_of_60 on Nov 16, 2019 at 2:53 pm

Climate alarmists, I can't take you seriously until you start living like the Amish. The problem is that you lie so much. You lie when you refuse to confess that the climate prediction models you use are extremely flawed. You lie when you scream about the "97 percent consensus" that doesn't exist. You lie when you say the real scientists who doubt man-caused global warming are all kooks and lunatics.

Most of all, your overblown, hysterical doomsday prophecies are lies. The world is supposed to already be over by now, according to you. At the very least, New York City should be under water. We should have all been dead from global warming or global cooling or overpopulation dozens of times over. Around the time of the first Earth Day, we were told that hundreds of millions would be starving to death per year within ten years of that date. Human civilization should have crumbled into dust and the few remaining survivors should be floating through a vast water world, locked in a struggle of survival against Dennis Hopper.

Yet, here we are, standing on dry land. How many times are you allowed to be wrong about the end of the world before we are justified in not taking you seriously anymore? I'd say that threshold, whatever it is, has long since been reached.

Up 38 Down 5

Groucho d'North on Nov 16, 2019 at 1:32 pm

This reads more like a wish list to Santa than a plan to reduce our C02 emissions.
For openers, I'd like to see a scientifically calculated present day emissions figure so we know where we are and what the present Yukon emissions really are. Further, how much C02 do our forests really capture? It would be nice to better understand our present situation before the multitude of coming experiments will supposedly influence some amount of change. Real statistical data without the hype and spin to support a particular approach or technology promoted by a player with an interest in the options.
I was very pleased to see that nuclear has found its way into the inventory of options to be considered.

Up 38 Down 13

Dave on Nov 16, 2019 at 12:35 pm

Best thing we can do in Canada and Yukon to reign in future carbon emissions is to stop new immigration. 250,000 new Canadians every year perpetually adding to our wickedly high per capita carbon tax output is defeating the purpose. Those people need to move to low carbon output countries near the equator where they won’t have to heat homes,etc.

Up 27 Down 44

Mitch on Nov 16, 2019 at 11:33 am

I feel I need to make a comment to support those who actually believe that climate change is an issue that needs to be addressed. Yes, trees and plants absorb carbon Dioxide but when the worlds produces more than what can be absorbed, this affects our breathable air. If you don't believe that move to Hong Kong or India where they have to wear face masks to walk outside.

I am happy to see our government trying to do something about it even if our own air is not that toxic. What I would like to see is more help for the lower income people to replace older inefficient vehicles or to replace older furnaces. The way it is now, high income people have the funds to take advantages of rebates but if you can't afford a car loan, it does not matter if there is a rebate. So the low income people continue to drive vehicles that use more gas and have to continue to pay more at the pumps. I know you say they can take the bus but if you have a family, that is not always realistic. Try taking your kids to daycare, then go to your job, pick your kids up after work and take them to any activities they are involved etc by taking the bus. So I say offer low income people a larger upfront rebate to trade in their older vehicles (to get them off the road) and to move into an hybrid or electric vehicle. You can use the gas tax money for that.

Up 54 Down 8

Juniper Jackson on Nov 16, 2019 at 11:15 am

Just sayin'..
Year Failed predictions
http://www.energycapitaled.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Seven-Big-Failed-Environmentalist-Predictions.pdf
1966 The oil will be gone in 10 years
1967 There will be world wide extreme famine forecast by 1975
1968 Over population will spread world wide, it becomes a crucial problem
1969 Everyone will disappear in a cloud of blue steam by 1989
https://www.thegwpf.com/18-spectacularly-wrong-predictions-made-around-the-time-of-first-earth-day-in-1970-expect-more-this-year/
1970 civilization will end within 15 years unless immediate action is taken against problems facing mankind
1970 The world will use up all of its natural resources by year 2000
1970 By 1985, air pollution will have reduced the amount of sunlight reaching earth by one half 
1970 Urban dwellers will require gas masks to live in the cities by 1985
1970 The death rate will increase until at least 100-200 million people per year will be starving to death during the next ten years.
1970 (The world will be) 11 degrees colder in the year 2000.
1970 Nitrogen build up will make all land unusable
1970 Decaying pollution will kill all the fish
1970 Killer bees will kill all pollinating bees and mankind will die a slow painful death
1970 Ice is building up rapidly, a new ice age will set in by 2000
1970 The United States will be subject to water rationing and food rationing by 1980
1971 New ice age delayed, coming in 2020
1972 New ice age delayed again, coming in 2070
1972 Oil will be gone, totally depleted by 2002
1974 Space satellites show the ice age is coming fast
1976 Scientific consensus is planet is cooling, famines imminent
1977 Department of Energy says oil will peak out in the 90's
1978 No end in sight to the 30 year cooling trend
1980 Acid rain kills all life in North American lakes
1980 Peak oil in 2000
1988 Regional droughts will be horrendous in the 90s
1988 Temperatures in North America will set record highs
1988 The Maldive Islands will be under water by 2018
1989 Rising sea levels will obliterate nations, it will start in 2000
1989 New York city's westside highway will be under water by 2019
1996 Peak oil in 2020
2000 Children will never know what snow is, the earth has stopped cooling
2002 People will die of stravation as famine is imminent by 2012 if humans do not stop eating fish, meat, dairy
2002 Peak oil in 2010
2004 Britain will be Siberia by 2014
2005 Manhattan will be underwater by 2015
2006 Super hurricanes will destroy the Eastern United States
2008 Arctic will be ice free by 2018
2018 Climate genius Al Gore predicts ice free arctic by 2013
https://cei.org/blog/wrong-again-50-years-failed-eco-pocalyptic-predictions
2015 Al Gore begins a soft sell campaign against meat and meat products.
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2019/03/30/methane-warming-exaggerated-by-400/ (400%)
2017 Al Gore and 1% ers invest heavily in non meat products. Al Gore hires a marketing firm.
The promotion of non meat products is introduced to the public with the exact concept that was used to villify oil and gas. Animal flatulance spells the end of the word if mankind doesn't start eating non meat products.

Up 45 Down 11

Nicky on Nov 15, 2019 at 10:43 pm

Human activities in the Yukon supposedly emit 620 kilotonnes of Green House Gas. However that amount is insignificant when compared against the massive amounts of GHGs emitted and absorbed by Yukon's forests, wetlands and grasslands during a year, especially if there is an active fire season.
The government has no way of actually measuring the amount of GHGs Yukoners supposedly emit, therefore they have no way to measure any effect of these GHG reduction programs. The whole Climate Emergency™ scheme is 'smoke and mirrors'.
"Just believe us, we know what's best for you".

Up 44 Down 14

Josey Wales on Nov 15, 2019 at 10:03 pm

Ambitious, is that a typo?
Or in these times of 2+4=8, our first black prime minister and eeeeeeepic gender confusion....another word for delusional?

Seriously....I think that Liberal ideologies are more akin to a mental illness than tangible solutions.
Given the mobs of climate change groupies, many rife with hysteria and other emotional problems, those whom eat it up like blind mice...suggests we are in the midst of a very serious mental health crisis.

Need mines for electric vehicles, new age and freeze dried hippies hate mines....does not square? Reads more like AOC’s letter to Santa these ambitious delusions.
But Greta would be peeing herself with glee that her scowling and choreographed disdain has guilted our political blowholes to whip the peasants into line...has paid off.

...and yes, I do support Mr. Don Cherry.

Side note...wish to really thank a veteran?
Become a citizen worthy of the sacrifice our soldiers and families made AND continue to make.

Up 26 Down 5

Woodcutter on Nov 15, 2019 at 9:57 pm

@if...not smelling wood smoke anymore, lmfao. The bigger driver for my sales? The high cost of heating oil. Many new customers have gone thru an envelope upgrade, switched to electric heat and use wood for the comfort. Feedback is that their cost to operate their homes is so dramatically reduced that the savings are more then their payments.

Jump on board and grab a paddle, for the kids of the future.

Up 41 Down 14

Matthew on Nov 15, 2019 at 9:36 pm

Surely this is a joke... first off, has anyone actually done research on how lithium is produced? (Far more horrible than organic dead trees aka fossil fuels) when you "plug" in a car, where do you think energy comes from? Correct, fossil fuels... also, thanks for taxing carbon tax, have to enjoy being taxed on a tax.

Up 17 Down 51

Politico on Nov 15, 2019 at 8:14 pm

Didn't take long for the anti earth people to crawl out from under the rug. J, we're killing the planet and the future of our children. You may not be around for many more years but I think it's a small price to pay for the future of my grandchildren. Canadians have a carbon foot print 6 times that of most of the rest of the world. It would be hard to convince the rest of the world to help if we are unwilling to try to reduce our carbon emissions. As for carbon in the air, put a plastic bag over your head and see how your body reacts to too much carbon. As for plants the evidence is there that too much is bad for plants also. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ask-the-experts-does-rising-co2-benefit-plants1/ https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/15166/20150615/climate-change-plants-choke-much-carbon.htm
I know, scientist that actually make measurements and make test really spoil your mass misinformation with facts. Sorry!

Up 41 Down 9

Charlie's Aunt on Nov 15, 2019 at 5:36 pm

'On a per capita basis, Yukoners generate the sixth-highest amount of GHGs in the country, the proposal points out.' Well that's rocket science considering our location and heating needs. Let's guess where else is in the top 6, NWT? Nunavut? Six out of 13 means what apart from being a scare tactic. “... By 2030, we will also meet 40 per cent of our heating needs with renewable energy sources.” If JC's prediction is correct there should be plenty of renewable fire-killed wood. Wood smoke is down in COW because of catalytic converters required in new stoves & they make a big difference.
Can't hang around, I have to rush to trade my car in for one that uses electricity from diesel generators. Are we now looking at all the new homes with electric heat being retrofitted? Juniper, you asked where the new money is coming from; it must be from expected new comers moving in, those that there is no housing for! Hope RP & PF aren't offended, but it's tough to hold back on the sarcasm.

Up 78 Down 18

jc on Nov 15, 2019 at 4:40 pm

And just what is the Yukon's carbon footprint? Just how much carbon are we releasing into the atmosphere? For crying out loud, we don't burn our garbage anymore, I don't smell wood smoke anymore in the city. Notice these left wing nuts won't tell you that, simply because they don't know. But they got to get on Little Princess Greta's royal parade because it's cool. My prediction is, the Yukon will experience more extreme forest fires in the future simply because the forests are being starved of CO2. That's what they live on. And oxygen is what they give off to keep us alive. Goodness sake, I learned that in grade school back in the early 1950s.
Insanity gone rampant. And for the sake of the young people just growing up, learn this: carbon is CO2/carbon dioxide. It's not a black soot floating in the air polluting up our air. It's an invisible gas that feeds vegetation that gives off oxygen. Now please, someone tell that to our ignorant, inglorious leaders.

Up 74 Down 10

Juniper Jackson on Nov 15, 2019 at 3:40 pm

450 million.. how much of that is 'new money' and where is that 'new money' coming from? Except, tax payers.. What % of the Yukon work age population is on welfare? They aren't going to provide 'new money'. That is a 'take only' career. Low income, is going to be exempt. That leaves anyone with 30,000 K a year or more with the bill.. and we all make more than 30,000k. You can't live in a tent here for less than that once your income tax is taken out.

Well.. the Yukon wanted them, and they got them.. good times eh?

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