Voluntary Offset Program for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Resulting from Members’ Parliamentary Activities
In keeping with its Sustainable Development Plan 2019-2023, the National Assembly has implemented a program to reduce and offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from its activities.
Under this program, a Member may opt to fully or partially offset the GHG emissions resulting from their parliamentary activities using the budget allocated to them for the operation of their riding office.
More specifically, two categories of GHG emissions can be offset:
- Emissions resulting from travel between the riding and the Parliament Building;
- Emissions resulting from the Member’s riding office’s activities.
Emissions Resulting from Travel Between Riding and Parliament Building
A Member may fully or partially offset the GHG emissions resulting from travel between their riding and the Parliament Building in Québec City.
The modes of transportation used for trips and the distances travelled are taken into account to determine the amount of GHG emissions produced by the Member.
Because ridings are located at varying distances from the Parliament Building and the amount of GHG emissions produced by each Member is largely influenced by their riding location, a fairness measure has been established.
Therefore, a Member cannot spend more than 0.355% of their operating budget to offset travel between their riding office and the Parliament Building. Any amount exceeding that threshold is assumed by the National Assembly as part of its institutional offsetting, and is not reported in the expense report.
Maximum amount a Member can pay to offset GHG emissions resulting from travel between their riding and the Parliament Building
Maximum amount a Member can pay to offset GHG emissions resulting from travel between their riding and the Parliament Building
| Note : Each riding receives a different budget based on the group to which it belongs. |
| Riding Group (see note) | 0.355% Threshold for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 |
| I |
$226.14 |
| II |
$185.31 |
| III |
$203.42 |
| IV |
$193.48 |
The National Assembly also assumes offsetting the GHG emissions of a Member who uses public transit (bus/train) for travel between their riding and the Parliament Building. The amount for that offsetting is not included in the Member’s expense report. This measure is an incentive to encourage Members who are able to do so to use public transit.
GHG Emissions Resulting from Riding Office Activities
A Member may also fully or partially offset the GHG emissions resulting from their riding office activities.
More specifically, the Member can offset emissions resulting from:
- business trips other than travel between their riding and the Parliament Building;
- business trips by riding office staff;
- riding office energy consumption (electricity, natural gas, etc.).
The modes of transportation used for trips, the distances travelled and the amount of energy consumed are taken into account to calculate the amount of GHGs resulting from the Member’s riding office activities.
There is no maximum threshold for expenses related to GHG emissions resulting from riding office activities.
Concerning Ministerial Office Holders
Because the National Assembly does not cover travel for ministerial office holders, the latter cannot offset GHGs resulting from travel between their riding and the Parliament Building, or from other business trips.
Only GHG emissions resulting the energy consumption and business trips of riding office staff can be offset by a Member who holds ministerial office.
Carbon Offset Organizations
Members’ GHGs are offset by an organization selected from among those qualified through a public call for tenders.