In NDP Stronghold, Carney Makes Pledges on Conserving Nature, Boosting Support for Seniors

Liberal Leader Mark Carney makes an announcement in Saanichton, B.C., on April 7, 2025. Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press

Liberal Leader Mark Carney made pledges around protecting the environment and supporting seniors during a stop on Vancouver Island, an area dominated by the NDP and Green Party.

“No country can endlessly draw down on its nature to enrich itself, and now our natural heritage is facing a new threat,” he said, saying U.S. President Donald Trump wants to “break” Canada to take its resources and water.

Carney’s pledges on the environment April 7 on Vancouver Island were the first made around that theme during the campaign, which has been heavily focused around countering U.S. tariffs and bolstering Canada’s economy.

Carney has been a longtime advocate of climate change and net-zero policies, but hasn’t focused on those items in the general election.

Carney’s promises were made in an area of the country where the NDP held six of the seven seats in the last Parliament. The only riding not in NDP hands belonged to Green Party co-leader Elizabeth May.

Carney said a new Liberal government would establish at least 10 new national parks and marine conservations areas. Parks Canada already had that objective under the previous Trudeau government.

Carney also promised to establish 15 new urban parks, something that featured in the 2021 Liberal campaign platform.

If elected, Carney also said Canadians would be able to visit national parks and historic sites free of charge over the summer.

The Liberal leader also made pledges around water, saying he would invest $100 million in a “water security technology fund” to advance Canadian research and development, artificial intelligence, monitoring, and data tools.

He also said he would enshrine First Nations’ “right to safe, clean, and reliable drinking water under law.”

Such an attempt was made by the previous Liberal government through Bill C-61, the First Nations Clean Water Act. The bill, first introduced in late 2023, died on the order paper when then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prorogued Parliament on Jan. 6.

Indigenous Services Canada says there are currently 35 long-term drinking water advisories in First Nations communities.

During his announcement, Carney also said Canada would take a leadership role at the upcoming climate conference in Brazil and that it would work to establish international standards for voluntary carbon markets.

Support for Seniors

Along with conservation pledges, Carney also said if elected prime minister he would boost support for seniors and retirees by temporarily increasing a federal monthly payment and changing withdrawal rules in a specific retirement fund.

“President Trump’s tariffs have ruptured the global economy, and Canadians are rightfully concerned about their retirement savings, their jobs, and their businesses,” Carney said in a statement on April 7.

The U.S. reciprocal tariffs have sent world markets into a tailspin, wiping trillions of dollars in stock valuation. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the markets will adjust after some time.

The Liberals’ plan to help seniors amid economic uncertainty is to increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement by 5 percent for a period of one year. This would provide up to an extra $652 for low-income seniors, the party said.

The Guaranteed Income Supplement is a non-taxable monthly payment made to individuals 65 years or older whose income is below $22,056 for those who are single, widowed, or divorced.

The second facet of Carney’s plan for seniors involves Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIF). The Liberal leader has promised he would reduce the minimum amount that must be withdrawn from an RRIF by 25 percent for one year. The minimum amount is usually calculated based on the age of the account holder and the value of the RRIF.

These were the first measures announced by the Liberal Party specifically directed at seniors during the campaign. Polls have suggested the party has strong support in this demographic.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre made pledges for seniors on March 26, saying a Conservative government would allow seniors to earn up to $34,000 tax free. He also said he would extend the Registered Retirement Savings Plan deadline from age 71 to 73.

Both Carney and Poilievre have pledged to lower federal income tax for the bottom bracket. Carney said he would bring down the tax rate from 15 percent to 14 percent, while Poilievre said he would take it down to 12.75 percent.