Trudeau talks climate action during B.C. visit Tuesday

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has a busy agenda as he visits B.C. this week, including doubling down on his climate promises.

Trudeau delivered the keynote address at a North American climate conference in Vancouver Tuesday, just moments after the government’s new climate strategy was tabled in Ottawa. He also addressed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis which has entered its 34th day with some concessions announced in talks by Russia. 

“It’s critical that Putin and the Russian regime be held to account. The RCMP will support the International Criminal Courts investigation of Russia’s alleged war crimes and undertake their own investigation under Canada’s crimes against humanity and war crimes program. We will keep doing everything we can to support the people of Ukraine,” Trudeau said in downtown Vancouver.

The prime minister is set to meet with B.C. Premier John Horgan after an announcement with Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson.

Read more: Canada outlines $9B plan to cut greenhouse gas reduction 40% by 2030

Tuesday afternoon, he will meet with local students to again speak about the environment. That event will also see Vancouver South Liberal MP Harjit S. Sajjan in attendance. Sajjan, former Defence Minister, has been put in charge of two ministries since a cabinet shuffle and is responsible for Pacific Economic Development and International Development.

His itinerary also includes attending two Liberal party fundraising events.

A few protesters have vowed to bring their messages to the prime minister. As of 10 a.m. PDT,  there were no incidents reported.

On Monday, Trudeau joined Ontario Premier Doug Ford in Brampton, ON, to detail the $13.2-billion agreement to bring $10-per-day child care to the province by 2025.

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• Trudeau to visit site of former residential school in Williams Lake, B.C.

• Ontario signs deal to bring $10/day child care to the province by 2025

The prime minister is set to travel to the B.C. Interior for a sombre visit with the Williams Lake First Nation Wednesday.

Trudeau will tour the grounds of a former residential school were a preliminary search has found more than 90 possible remains of Indigenous children through ground-penetrating radar technology. Only a small portion of the site has been searched to date.

St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School was operated by the Catholic Church between 1891 and 1969. The Canadian government then took it over until it was closed in 1981.

“We need to show that we are there with them, to walk with them on the path of healing and reconciliation and build a better future for us all. This is something that we are committed to as a government. It’s something that I look forward to engaging with the residents of Williams Lake First Nation tomorrow, because this country will continue its journey on the path of reconciliation hand in hand with Indigenous peoples,” Trudeau said.