Last week, Steven Guilbeault finally admitted that Canada’s climate targets are unrealistic and that our energy industry needs more time to reach the government’s overly ambitious targets..Mr. Guilbeault deserves some kudos for concluding what a broad and multi-partisan coalition of politicians, industry experts, and organizations, like Modern Miracle Network, have been telling him for years..But I’m holding my applause because there is larger issue at play..The reason that the federal government’s climate targets are unrealistic is not the industry itself or a general unwillingness of energy companies to work towards reducing Canada’s emissions..Instead, it’s that this government is stifling the industry in many ways, making it impossible for the companies to achieve ambitious but necessary goals..Rather than recognize their role in stifling emissions-reducing innovations, the federal government continues calling out energy companies as the single reason why Canada is behind in achieving its goals. Instead of taking on responsibility and ownership for the state of Canada’s emissions, it continues to denounce the oil and gas sector as the source of all evil..That is not an admission of culpability. That is not a government coming to its senses. That is a government that continues to blame others for its own mistakes and failures..We are severely lacking leadership on many fronts in this country, and playing the blame game has shown that the current government is not up to the task of leading..For decades, the oil and gas industry has been working hard to build a viable pathway to net-zero emissions. Billions of dollars have been poured into research and development to innovate solutions that allow us to recycle and store emissions in ways that don’t harm our environment..For decades the sector has been taking ownership of their contributions to society. The positive ones like powering one of the strongest economies on the globe, and the things we can improve, like developing even cleaner and more responsible ways to produce energy. Second to none..And unlike the federal government, we have been targeting the source of climate change: emissions..If we want to continue to enjoy and improve our lifestyles, we collectively must cut our emissions. But we must do so in a way that doesn’t stifle our economic growth and our ability to provide Canadians with opportunities to prosper and pursue personal happiness..Hundreds of thousands of families across the country work, directly and indirectly, in the energy industry. Millions more benefit from our work. Our products are key ingredients to millions of items that Canadians rely on in their everyday lives. Let’s not even talk about our contributions to healthcare and preventing people from suffering life-threatening heat strokes through powering air conditioning..These are critical elements of our society – whether you like it, or not. You can’t just make reality disappear. You must make it function in a way that helps reduce negative impacts..Mr.Guilbeault, instead of claiming that the energy industry is the reason that Canada is not hitting its unrealistic climate targets, reflecting and taking some ownership?.How about changing course and fight emissions instead of Canadian energy companies?.How about arming Canadian energy companies with incentives to make them an ally in your efforts to fight climate change, and not a scape goat?.How about real action instead of empty partisan talking points and blame shifting?.Do that, and I promise that you will get your first standing ovation from me. One that is truly earned..Michael Binnion is the Executive Director of the Modern Miracle Network, whose mission it is to encourage Canadians to have reasoned conversations about energy issues.
