Sudbury ON in Robinson-Huron Treaty Territory: On March 8, 2026, three federal by-elections were called in Canada, including the race in Terrebonne, Quebec where the Supreme Court of Canada had overturned the one-vote win. These by-elections underscore the razor-thin margins in Canada’s current Parliament: the Liberal government, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, holds 170 seats, just two short of a majority after NDP MP Lori Idlout crossed the floor on March 10. With the balance of power so delicate, every vote in these by-elections carry extraordinary weight, not just for parliamentary arithmetic, but for the future of Canada’s climate plans. New research from Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada (CCL Canada) reveals that Canadians who voted for pro-climate candidates in 2025, and whose candidate was elected, may have reduced their personal greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint by an average of 13.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (t CO₂e) per year simply by helping elect a climate-friendly MP. In 2025, Canada faced a defining choice. The Liberals, NDP, Bloc Quebecois and the Green Party campaigned on maintaining or expanding key climate policies, such as the industrial carbon price, and performance standards. The Conservative Party, however, would have dismantled the industrial carbon price, which costs about a Timbit per barrel of oil and replacing it with a focus on nuclear energy, hydroelectricity, and carbon capture—approaches that experts warn are insufficient to drive the deep emissions cuts needed in sectors like transportation and industry. Drawing on analyses by Stark and Rhodes and published in Policy Options and Carbon Brief, it was estimated that a Conservative victory would have added 771 megatonnes (Mt) of CO2e to Canada’s emissions between 2025 and 2035. This calculation included the removal of the effective consumer carbon price with rebate. The result was primarily due to the rollback of industrial carbon pricing and performance standards. This figure formed the basis for CCL Canada’s calculation of the climate impact of individual votes. For context, the average Canadian’s household emissions (excluding industrial sources) are 5.5–6 t CO₂e/year. Thus, a single pro-climate vote in 2025 thus offset over twice the average annual household carbon footprint. When compared to other individual climate actions, the impact of a pro-climate vote is staggering: While the 13.54 t CO₂e figure is robust, recent shifts—such as the 2025 federal budget and Alberta MOU—may alter Canada’s emissions trajectory. Further research is needed to update this estimate in light of new policies. As of December 2025, current policies are projected to reduce emissions by just 21% below 2005 levels by 2030—far short of the 40–45% target and ranked by Climate Action Tracker as highly insufficient. Yet, the core message remains: voting is a climate game-changer. In a tight parliament, where by-elections and floor-crossings can tip the balance, the collective power of pro-climate votes becomes even more critical. The 2025 election proved that casting a ballot for a climate-friendly candidate isn’t just a civic duty, it’s one of the most potent tools individuals have to cut global warming gases. For voters, the message is clear: your vote doesn’t just count—it cools the planet. For more information about how voting cools the planet go here: About Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada is a non-partisan, grassroots organization empowering Canadians to advocate for effective, equitable climate solutions since 2010. Media Contact: #####Cool the Planet with Your Vote
How Your Vote in the 2025 Canadian Election Reduced GHGs: New Research from Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 18, 2026
To determine the emissions avoided per voter, CCL Canada used the following approach:
Cathy Orlando, National Director
Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada
cathy@citizensclimate.org | 705-929-4043
Media Release: Cool the Planet with Your Vote
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