Liberal climate caucus to meet amid concerns of environmental backsliding: sources

Federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Julie Dabrusin outlines Canada's goals to reduce emissions following an industrial carbon price agreement.

The federal Liberal climate caucus will meet Monday night, amid reporting several of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s MPs are concerned he’s backsliding on environmental commitments, sources tell CTV News.

Sources also say Canadian Climate Institute president Rick Smith will attend the meeting to speak with MPs.

The meeting comes amid reporting from Radio-Canada that more than a dozen MPs sent a letter to Carney last month, raising concerns about environmental rollbacks as the prime minister moves forward with his pipeline deal with Alberta.

Asked about the letter during a press conference on Monday, Carney said a “healthy” caucus will “always have an exchange of views.” He added, however, that there are 160 members of his caucus, intimating the vast majority of Liberal MPs are onside with the Alberta deal.

“We have to take decisions that are in the interests of the country, that reflect an agreement with the province of Alberta, the interests of British Columbia, the interests of Indigenous Peoples, and also that looks at policy in its totality,” Carney said.

He also pointed to his electricity strategy — unveiled after the group of MPs shared their concerns — which promises to double Canada’s grid capacity, and to the Liberals’ nature strategy.

“You have to look at everything in the round” he said. “We do many things at the same time. We’re moving forward on climate action. We’re moving forward on making this country more affordable.”

With files from CTV News’ Vassy Kapelos and Stephanie Ha