Bill C-12 (Historical)

Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act

An Act respecting transparency and accountability in Canada's efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050

This bill is from the 43rd Parliament, 2nd session, which ended in August 2021.

Sponsor

Jonathan Wilkinson Liberal

Status

This bill has received Royal Assent and is now law.

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament has also written a full legislative summary of the bill.

This enactment requires that national targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada be set, with the objective of attaining net-zero emissions by 2050. The targets are to be set by the Minister of the Environment for 2030, 2035, 2040 and 2045.
In order to promote transparency and accountability in relation to meeting those targets, the enactment also
(a) requires that an emissions reduction plan, a progress report and an assessment report with respect to each target be tabled in each House of Parliament;
(b) provides for public participation;
(c) establishes an advisory body to provide the Minister of the Environment with advice with respect to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and matters that are referred to it by the Minister;
(d) requires the Minister of Finance to prepare an annual report respecting key measures that the federal public administration has taken to manage its financial risks and opportunities related to climate change;
(e) requires the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to, at least once every five years, examine and report on the Government of Canada’s implementation of measures aimed at mitigating climate change; and
(f) provides for a comprehensive review of the Act five years after its coming into force.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-12s:

C-12 (2022) Law An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (Guaranteed Income Supplement)

C-12 (2020) Law An Act to amend the Financial Administration Act (special warrant)

C-12 (2016) An Act to amend the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts

C-12 (2013) Law Drug-Free Prisons Act

Votes

June 22, 2021 Passed 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-12, An Act respecting transparency and accountability in Canada's efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050

June 22, 2021 Passed Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-12, An Act respecting transparency and accountability in Canada's efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050

June 22, 2021 Passed Bill C-12, An Act respecting transparency and accountability in Canada's efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050 (report stage amendment - Motion No. 2; Group 1; Clause 22)

May 4, 2021 Passed 2nd reading of Bill C-12, An Act respecting transparency and accountability in Canada's efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050

May 4, 2021 Failed 2nd reading of Bill C-12, An Act respecting transparency and accountability in Canada's efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050 (reasoned amendment)

April 27, 2021 Passed Time allocation for Bill C-12, An Act respecting transparency and accountability in Canada's efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050

Debate Summary

This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.

Bill C-12 aims to create a framework for Canada to meet greenhouse gas emission reduction targets by requiring regular progress reports, establishing an advisory body, and setting progressively ambitious goals.

Liberal

Holds government accountable for climate targets: Bill C-12 requires transparency and holds the federal government accountable for meeting greenhouse gas emission targets, including the strengthened 2030 target and net-zero by 2050.
Strengthened by amendments: Amendments significantly improved the bill, requiring earlier and more frequent progress reports (by end of 2023, then 2025) and setting targets 10 years in advance for certainty.
Independent advisory body: The bill clarifies and strengthens the role of the independent net-zero advisory body, which provides advice, assists with target setting, and reports annually to the minister.

Conservative

Bill rushed before election: The government is rushing this flawed bill through before the summer recess, potentially in anticipation of an election, which is hypocritical and disrespectful to democracy.
Poorly drafted bill: The bill was poorly written from the start, requiring 114 amendments at committee, including 17 from the government, indicating significant flaws needing correction.
Flawed committee process: The government rushed the committee study, ignoring feedback from most briefs and making a deal with the NDP to ram through amendments without proper debate or scrutiny.
Results in flawed law: Due to the flawed committee process and lack of proper consideration, the resulting legislation, Bill C-12, is also flawed and should not come into force.

NDP

Supports climate accountability: The NDP supports Bill C-12 as it creates a much-needed framework for climate accountability, addressing Canada's historical failure to meet climate commitments.
Strengthened the bill: While not the bill they would have written, the NDP chose to work to strengthen the legislation, bringing their ideas to the government for improvements.
Secured 2026 objective: The NDP successfully pushed for and secured a commitment to a 2026 interim emissions objective, which provides essential transparency and accountability before 2030.
Amended bill is stronger: The NDP believes the amended Bill C-12 is significantly stronger than its original draft and represents a necessary foundation for driving required climate action.

Bloc

Bill is weak: The bill is weak and cosmetic, not guaranteeing Canada will meet its international greenhouse gas reduction targets and lacking binding accountability mechanisms.
Partisan process: The Liberals turned the bill into a partisan issue, rushed its study, and systematically rejected the Bloc Québécois's suggestions and amendments in committee.
No specific targets: Despite changing government promises on targets, the bill fails to include any specific greenhouse gas reduction target with legal force.

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