The Green Party of BC, led by Jane Sterk, wants to build a new green economy.
The party’s platform calls for investment in renewable energy to move away from fossil fuels, and a focus on regional economies.
The Greens promise to:
•eliminate government subsidies to polluting industries;
•lower taxes on industries that promote human health;
•finance a Green Venture Capital Fund to encourage local green business startups;
•introduce a moratorium on gambling licences and phase out existing legal gambling;
•encourage social enterprises and co-operative businesses like credit unions;
•halt consideration of Enbridge’s proposed Northern Gateway pipeline and reject an expansion of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline; and
•permanently ban oil tankers along the B.C. coast.
The party says it will focus on local trade because global markets are environmentally unsustainable.
“The current economic model assumes that perpetual growth is possible on our fragile and finite planet,” says a statement on the party’s website.
“This economic model is dependent on consumption and the waste that accompanies consumption means that most of what we buy is cheap and ends up in our waste streams within six month of purchase. The economy is financed by debt and debt levels are unsustainable and growing.” •
