A critical moment for the climate emergency, and a green infrastructure deficit
An alternative vision is not only possible but necessary to secure Canada’s economic future.
OPINION | BY NDP MP JENNY KWAN | October 8, 2025
Humanity faces unprecedented danger from climate change and biodiversity loss. Eight thousand forest fires occur in Canada each year with 2.1 million hectares on fire on average. To put it in perspective, that’s nearly half the size of Nova Scotia in flames each year.
Canada saw the worst wildfires in the country’s history in 2023, engulfing more than 17 million hectares of land, and requiring approximately 232,000 people to be evacuated. The cost: nearly $10-billion, with $3.1-billion in insured damages.
In 2024, Canada suffered another $8.5-billion in losses, and we saw Jasper, Alta., engulfed in flames. In 2025, while all the figures are still being tallied, as of July, there were more than 3,500 wildfires spanning over six million hectares.
Toxic air pollution, respiratory problems, and communities in a state of constant anxiety. Annual wildfires have evolved from occasional events into recurring disasters.
Instead of doubling down to address the impact of the climate crisis, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first act was to cancel the carbon tax. He put a pause on the zero-emission vehicle sales mandate, and—with the help of the Conservatives—rammed through Bill C-5, legislation that will bypass environmental reviews for what Carney and his cabinet will decide are major projects of national interest. All of this as Canada is poised to miss its 2030 climate target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40-50 per cent below 2005 levels.
No matter the spin, Canada’s actual emissions are currently sitting at 8.5 per cent below 2005 levels. The Liberal government’s inaction is equivalent to pouring gasoline on the flames. CEOs of big oil companies raked in billions of dollars while communities across Canada were ravaged by forest fires over successive summers. These companies are taking no responsibility for their decades-long polluting practices—they just want to maximize profits. Meanwhile, Canadian banks are among the largest investors in the fossil fuel sector worldwide.
In 2015, on the eve of COP21, well before he became prime minister, Carney outlined the global financial risks of a climate crisis. He said climate change is an existential threat to the financial system, and he called for major banks to include climate crisis risks in their investments to align with the Paris Agreement.
A decade later, all of Canada’s major banks have pulled out of their climate commitments now that United States President Donald Trump is at the helm. Now that he is prime minister, Carney is backtracking on Canada’s commitment to climate action to appease Trump.
An alternative vision is not only possible but necessary to secure Canada’s economic future—a vision that grows the economy, creates jobs, supports communities, and helps the country meet its emissions goals. Here are some examples of the type of nation-building major projects that can transform Canada:
- Close the infrastructure gap for First Nations. As identified by the Assembly of First Nations, this will boost Canada’s economic output by $635-billion, create and sustain more than 338,000 jobs per year, and generate more than $87-billion in government tax revenue.
- Fast-track nation-wide infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations across the country. This would add $48-billion and up to 250,000 jobs to Canada’s economy through the expansion of a domestic electric battery supply chain.
- Make massive investments in a built-by-Canadians-for-Canadians public transit system. In the next 10 years, Metro Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver’s transit systems will need at least 5,000 new buses and more than 200 trains.
- Upscale and expand retrofit initiatives to existing homes to make them low carbon and resilient to the effects of climate change. A deep energy retrofit program can reduce energy by up to 90 per cent, and cut operational carbon emissions by as much as 99 per cent.
- Establish permanent wildfire protection measures with permanent teams who receive training for community defence and ecosystem protection similar to those implemented by California, Australia, and elsewhere.
- Establish a Youth Climate Corps. With youth unemployment in double digits, this will revolutionize our approach to fighting fires, address climate change, and instill hope for the future.
Canadians demand innovative solutions and investments instead of partial solutions and half measures at this critical moment of a climate emergency and a green infrastructure deficit.
Jenny Kwan is the NDP critic for housing, immigration, refugees and citizenship, public safety, national security, infrastructure, and Pacific Economic Development.
