In reaction to the Co-operator’s coverage of 2025 wildfires and wildfire smoke implications to human health and agriculture.
Months ago, when Mark Carney was on a mission to woo Canadians in his bid to lead both the Liberal party and the country, he wrote: “Young people deserve more from their government. They deserve to have optimism and confidence in their future. That’s the Canada I want to build.”
Now, months after being elected and nearly 10 years after his landmark “tragedy of the horizon” speech about acting with foresight to prevent climate harms, Carney’s government rammed through Bill C-5 — legislation that gives cabinet sweeping powers to bypass environmental reviews and protections.
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As the second-worst wildfire season in Canadian history forces evacuations from coast to coast to coast and leaders muse about taxpayer-funded fossil fuel expansion, I have to ask: is this the “more” that young people deserve? Or are we seeing the continued sidelining of young peoples’ rights to a climate-safe future, leaving them with no choice but to litigate?
On International Youth Day earlier this year, I celebrated the bravery of the seven young Ontarians in Mathur v. Ontario for taking their government to court over climate harms. For them, and for me, actions speak louder than words.
Mark Olfert
Winnipeg
