Not easy being green: How B.C. is reducing emissions and growing the economy.
Minister of Environment
Province of British Columbia
Program: 7:45 - 9:00 a.m.
Hon. Mary Polak
Around the world, governments must grapple with the challenge of achieving a balance between tackling climate change while supporting economic growth. It may be easy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by simply making B.C. uncompetitive for industry, driving business out of our province.
But British Columbia is proving it is possible to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions while leading the nation in job creation and economic growth.
Mary Polak, British Columbia's Minister of Environment, will discuss how B.C. is leading the fight against climate change—most notably, becoming the first jurisdiction in North America with a broad-based, revenue-neutral carbon tax, which, at $30 per tonne, remains the highest in North America today.
Minister Polak will also speak to B.C.'s continued climate leadership, including the province's newly released Climate Leadership Plan and 21 new actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and what to expect next.
About the speaker:
Mary Polak was re-elected to the B.C. legislature in 2013, having represented the constituents of Langley since 2005. She was appointed Minister of Environment June 10, 2013.
Prior to her current cabinet post, she served as the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Minister of Children and Family Development and Minister Responsible for Child Care, Minister of Healthy Living and Sport, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health for the Conversation on Health.
Before being elected to the legislative assembly, Polak served as a trustee and former chair of the Surrey school board.
Mary lives in the Willoughby area of Langley.
