Tory environmental policy means dirty air for years to come

'Calling this plan a strategy is actually giving it far too much credit. It's a sham, and a complete abdication of our international commitment.' - David Suzuki – April 27, 2007

Ottawa (8 May 2007) - Environment Minister John Baird's new environmental policy is “a disappointing and spotty collection of measures to combat climate change,” says the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).

Where Kyoto commits Canada to cutting emissions of greenhouse gases by 6% below 1990 levels by 2012, the Conservatives won't even touch that figure. Baird claims that meeting the Kyoto targets will be the economic ruin of Canada, ignoring the economic gains to be made from encouraging green industry and putting in place renewable energy infrastructure.

Former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore, during a recent visit to Toronto, called the Baird plan “a complete and total fraud" and then added this telling comment: "It is designed to mislead the Canadian people.”

Today Canadian emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) are 27% above 1990 levels and 35% above the Kyoto target. Intensity based targets presented by Baird will allow industry to reduce emissions relative to their output. With this strategy, as production grows so will GHG emissions. This is not a cap or hard ceiling on the GHGs, it is a moveable target – with no guarantee of reductions! Furthermore, industry will be given options to avoid reducing emissions.

Intensity targets are not scheduled to begin until 2010 and neither is a proposed $15/tonne carbon tax for some sectors. This cost is well below what other proposed strategies have suggested. Meanwhile, caps for smog culprits like sulphur oxides won't kick in until 2012. All in all, it's a guarantee for dirty air for years to come.

Simply put, Canada won't meet it's Kyoto targets until 2025 – 13 years too late.

“The advantages to be gained by 'biting the bullet' now are BIG,” notes James Clancy, National Union president. “Britain realizes it, and has already met their Kyoto targets. If the federal government was to ignore or deny the full impact of climate change – they should still make an aggressive move to a low carbon economy for our long-term economic well-being.”