Progressive Tory Posted March 2, 2009 Report Posted March 2, 2009 We know that Obama is very pro-environment and has his own ambitous cap and trade policy, that could leave Canada with a Beenie. Prentice hits Washington, with cap (and trade) in hand Now I like Jim Prentice and have confidence that he can present our case, but will it be enough? Many don't believe he can, and fear that U.S. protectionism could now include environmental standards. "The Harper government is facing growing threats of environment-based protectionism from the U.S. as President Barack Obama moves forward aggressively with a climate-change plan that conservative critics are already blasting as a de facto, economy-wide carbon tax." "...But Mr. Obama's budget, released last week, makes it clear he is planning far more sweeping emissions rules than Ottawa's plan to impose regulations on the largest industrial emitters. And the President gave no indication during his trip to Canada that he was enthusiastic about Prime Minister Stephen Harper's idea for a bilateral agreement on climate change. Mr. Prentice lands in a politically charged U.S. capital as the administration turns up the heat in the debate over environmental regulations. He knows full well that the outcome of that debate will have far-reaching impacts on Canada - from oil sands producers worried about an environmental backlash to provincial utilities looking to export emissions-free power and individual Canadians whose economic wellbeing is inextricably tied to the health of the American economy. There is a growing concern that Canadian exporters could face duties and other trade measures if the U.S. imposes tough rules on its businesses and views Canada as a laggard." I'm not a Canadian Rush Limbaugh and am not rooting for my country to fail, but the Conservatives should have thought of this sooner. They knew George Bush would not be around forever, and at some point they would have to actually act. Too little too late, I'm afraid. Alberta’s oilsands create ‘big carbon footprint,’ Obama says Quote "For all our modesty and self-deprecation, we’re a people who dream great dreams. And then roll up our sleeves and turn them into realities." - Michael Ignatieff "I would not want the Prime Minister to think that he could simply fail in the House of Commons as a route to another General Election. That's not the way our system works." Stephen Harper.
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