CANADA’S CLEAN AIR ACT: PUTTING AN END TO LIBERAL HOT AIR

Over the last 13 years of Liberal rule, Greehouse Gas Emissions have actually gone up 35%! Far from reaching the Kyoto targets of 6% below 1990 levels, the Chretien and Martin governments took our country’s environment in the wrong direction. Predictably, when a Conservative government introduced legislation that would actually produce reductions in smog, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions - the opposition parties spit in the face of the Canadian public and demonized the proposals.

For months the Liberals and NDP cried, “they have no plan...” all the while having nothing to offer themselves other than the paper tiger of Kyoto. While the opposition was playing origami with hot air credits, our government was crafting a plan that would produce immediate, short-term and long term results in a measurable way. The era of sound bytes has been replaced with the era of sound policy.

In order to meet our 2010 Kyoto targets, we would not only have to reduce emissions by 6% below 1990 levels, we would also have to eliminate the additional 28% increase in emissions that the Liberals allowed. To put it simply, we would have to shut down nearly ½ of the greenhouse gas emitting machinery to meet Kyoto targets!

Which emitters should we eliminate overnight - ½ of Canadian cars and trucks? Perhaps we should lay off ½ of Canadian workers and shut down the industrial manufacturing emitters they work for. Maybe we should close the coal fired electrical generating plants throughout the country and give out blankets and sweaters instead!

The fact is that, due to the inattention and neglect of the former Liberal government, we have no hope of meeting our Kyoto target in 2010. That does not mean we will abandon the plan, it simply means that we have to be realistic about the time frame.

The Conservative Clean Air Act proposes to tackle air pollution and greenhouse gas at the same time because they often come from the same sources. We are moving away from voluntary standards set by what industry is comfortable with to strict, enforceable targets that will give Canadians some breathing room.

The patchwork system of bureaucratic Liberal quagmire is being replaced with clear, comprehensive national standards. This requires consultation with the provinces so that everyone is on the same page. That is not a delaying tactic, it is just smart government.

One of the biggest criticisms by the opposition and groups like the Sierra Club is that we have set a target of 65% reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050. Every Liberal leadership candidate has set lesser targets: Michael Ignatieff 50% by 2050; Bob Rae 50% over the next 45 years; Stéphane Dion 60% by 2050; Ken Dryden 50% over the next 45 years*.

Minister Ambrose told the Parliament “We will also be negotiating over the next four months with every province and territory and industry sector short term targets to be put in place by spring.” Targets supported by the provinces, industry and good science are not irresponsible, they are good government.

- TruBlue

*Source: The Hansard, Thursday October 19, 2006