VANCOUVER— While Christy Clark’s government will let carbon pollution escalate for the next ten years, B.C. New Democrat leader John Horgan released today a climate action plan that will cut carbon pollution, create good jobs, and double the number of British Columbians receiving rebate cheques to offset a higher federal carbon tax.

“Christy Clark and her Liberals have zero ability to see beyond the immediate needs of corporate friends and the big polluters who pay their bills,” said Horgan. “British Columbians can’t afford another decade of worsening pollution. Her plan isn’t working for people, it isn’t creating good jobs, and it isn’t good for our environment.

“She’s got us going in the wrong direction for our province, our kids and grandkids. We’ve got to turn this around for B.C. – we can move towards a better, clean-growth economy while significantly reducing carbon pollution.”

Horgan said that his climate action plan cushions the impact of the federal government’s carbon price on low and middle income families by putting money back in their pockets. He said that while less than 40 per cent of people currently get rebates, under his plan that number will double.

“With our climate action plan, 80 per cent of families will receive rebates. We’ll make sure that the corporations that profit from polluting pay – not average families.

After family rebates are paid to British Columbians, the New Democrat climate plan will invest the remaining carbon tax revenues in good jobs building public transit, expanding clean and green technology industries, and building energy efficient construction in every B.C. community.

“The federal government has said they’ll impose a new carbon price. We need a made-in-B.C. approach that gets us the right results, more good jobs that last and real reductions in carbon pollution, without making average families pay the price,” said Horgan.

“Our plan invests directly in a sustainable B.C. economy that puts people to work with new and lasting jobs building green infrastructure that actually cuts carbon pollution, instead of Christy Clark’s tax breaks for corporations.

“It’s also time to respect the hard work of the Climate Leadership Team by putting their recommendations into action to cut emissions and set targets, because the only way to defend our environment is to make sure pollution is going down, not up.

“We can build a better future for our kids and grandkids here in B.C. by creating more economic opportunities while fighting carbon pollution. It can’t wait. We’ve got to get it done.”

Here is a link to a backgrounder on the Clean Growth Climate Action plan: http://bit.ly/2kwYreQ

Here is a link to reactions on the Clean Growth Climate Action plan: http://bit.ly/2kmqs6C