Environment Ministers Meet

[jdobbin]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/070528/..._ministers_meet

Environment Minister John Baird was put on the defensive Monday after an attempt to sell Ottawa's greenhouse gas reduction plan to his provincial and territorial counterparts was met with a chorus of disapproval.

A number of ministers emerged from a closed-door meeting with Baird saying they were disappointed with the government for failing to set a hard cap on industries that produce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Conservative government's plan has promised to reduce overall emissions by 20 per cent by 2020 based on current levels, with greenhouse gas emitters facing a 26 per cent reduction by 2015.

Critics point out that the latter number sets targets for big business based on their industrial output, rather than placing a hard cap on their emissions. Intensity targets would allow emissions to continue rising along with industry output.

Various critic pointed out the huge loopholes in the Tory plan.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories

An analysis by an environmental think tank has found what it says are significant holes in the Conservative government's greenhouse gas reduction plan for heavy industry.

"We've already said the overall targets fall short of Kyoto," Matthew Bramley, director of climate change for the Pembina Institute, told CTV.ca on Monday.

"There are also a whole host of questions about whether even these weak targets can be achieved."

He wasn't prepared to talk about motives on the government's part for why that might be so.

The institute's report, supported by other major environmental groups, starts by claiming the government's shifting of the baseline year to 2006 from the international standard of 1990 gives a "misleading impression of their adequacy."

It looks like the provinces aren't about to give Ottawa an easy time of it over their environmental bill.

[Argus]

It looks like the provinces aren't about to give Ottawa an easy time of it over their environmental bill.

Uh huhhhh. Well, the only one mentioned was Ontario's minister. It seems to me that when word got out the Tories might put rules in place requiring the auto industry to reduce emissions Dalton McGuinty was squealing like a pig about how it would damage Ontario's economy.

So if I was Baird I would immediately bring in hard caps on the auto industry and say that it was in response to the Ontario government's demand - and see what old Dalton's response to that would be.

[jdobbin]

Uh huhhhh. Well, the only one mentioned was Ontario's minister. It seems to me that when word got out the Tories might put rules in place requiring the auto industry to reduce emissions Dalton McGuinty was squealing like a pig about how it would damage Ontario's economy.

So if I was Baird I would immediately bring in hard caps on the auto industry and say that it was in response to the Ontario government's demand - and see what old Dalton's response to that would be.

Heard McGuinty just yesterday supporting his environment minister on hard caps so I'm not sure what you are referring to.

[Topaz]

I agree with McGuinty, its going to be up to the provinces to get this done because Harper has always been against anything that harms Alberta and the oil industry a reg. Bushie! As far as Baird goes, he'll lose this job just like he did in Ontario!

[geoffrey]

So if I was Baird I would immediately bring in hard caps on the auto industry and say that it was in response to the Ontario government's demand - and see what old Dalton's response to that would be.

All provinces are doing this. In Alberta, it's we don't want to pay more than our fair share (which is reasonable considering we always end up paying so much more than we should). In Ontario, it's tax oil not cars. In Quebec, it's we have hydro so we should be exempt from everything. Same with BC.

It follows every last Canadian's thoughts on the environment. We all want to do something, but no one wants to pay a cent for it.

I agree with McGuinty, its going to be up to the provinces to get this done because Harper has always been against anything that harms Alberta and the oil industry a reg.

Good. The Federal government has no jurisdiction over our natural resources. And you might want to reconsider slaughtering the hen that lays your big fat socialist paradise egg.

Canada would be a joke without Alberta right now, look at the recent growth and job numbers. It's a sad sad story east of Lloydminister. Good on Harper for not wanting to destroy the standard of living of all Canadians.

[Vancouver King]

It's a sad sad story east of Lloydminister.

In Saskatoon - east of Lloydminster I believe - the waiting lists for new detached housing stretch 18 months. In the last quarter no region or province came anywhere near Saskatchewan for increased value of resale housing. Sadness, indeed.

If the Canadian public wants an accurate and unnerving barometer as to how far our nation has regressed, look no further than the spectacle of a movie star Republican California governor giving our Ottawa leadership lessons on addressing GHGs and climate change. It is to cry.

[Canuck E Stan]

If the Canadian public wants an accurate and unnerving barometer as to how far our nation has regressed, look no further than the spectacle of a movie star Republican California governor giving our Ottawa leadership lessons on addressing GHGs and climate change. It is to cry.

For some people, the grass is always greener on the other side.