Canuck Politics

Prime Minister Harper says the world must recognise the economic impact of dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the short term, while driving technological innovations that will reduce emissions in the long term.

It has to be recognized that the current technological mix leads to a certain levels of emission, and that is what has to be changed. And that is going to take some time.

It has to be done, but it will not be done by simply trying to pretend economic imperatives don’t exist, because all that happens when that happens is people set targets, and then don’t meet them.

- Stephen Harper

President Obama and Prime Minister Harper answer questions from the media during Obama’s first foreign visit to Ottawa.

Afghanistan

Climate Change

Free Trade  and Economic Integration

The five federal party leaders debate the election issues in the English language debate.

Liberal leader Stéphane Dion announced details of the Liberal Party’s Green Shift carbon tax at a party rally in Ottawa.

The plan includes a tax on carbon emissions against big polluters with tax cuts and rebates for individuals intended to offset increased energy prices caused by the tax.

Dion later challenged Harper to a public debate saying he wants a substantive discussion on the issue.

Related Videos:

• Video: Harper promotes Canada’s emission reduction plan in Europe
• Video: Stéphane Dion proposes carbon ‘tax shift’

Links:

• Liberal Party website: The Green Shift

Prime Minister Harper promotes Canada’s plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the Canada-UK Chamber of Commerce in London, England.

Links:

• Canada’s Environment Plan: Turning the Corner Regulatory Framework
• Video: Stéphane Dion proposes carbon ‘tax shift’
• Video: Stephen Harper’s economic plan

Stéphane Dion outlined his vision for the economy and environment during a speech at the Canadian Club of Toronto.

Dion proposed a carbon tax during the speech, saying it will be revenue neutral because he would also lower other taxes.

MacKay Editorial Cartoons: Liberals uneasy about Dion’s plan for carbon tax

Some Liberals are uneasy of the plan, fearing it will be difficult to sell during an election.

Related links:

• Report: Pricing Carbon: Saving Green (David Suzuki Foundation)
• Regulatory Framework for Industrial Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Government of Canada)
• Video: Stephen Harper’s economic plan

September 25, 2007 - Prime Minister Stephen Harper answered questions from members of the Council on Foreign Relations, a US-based non-partisan think tank for international affairs.

Harper answered questions on a wide range of issues including climate change, the Kyoto Protocol, the differences between the US and Canada, and why America is ‘hated’ but Canada is not.

Harper said there is a high possibility of another minority government after the next federal election, but that Canada’s foreign policy would not change even if they achieved a majority.

I believe that when it comes to foreign affairs and global security, this is one area where you do what is right in the long-term interests of the country, your allies and the world … Under a minority government, this government’s foreign policy will not be any different than it would be under a majority government.

- Stephen Harper

Stephen Harper says Canada will be a world leader in the fight against global warming and in the development of clean energy technology.

Harper chose climate Change as the topic of his address to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Sydney, Australia.   He stressed the need for an inclusive approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions that involves all countries working toward common targets.

Harper outlined Canada’s approach, saying the plan could be model for a new international agreement. The plan includes:

• Mandatory targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 18% per unit of production over the next 3 years, and then a further 2% reduction in intensity each year thereafter
• Macro GHG reduction targets of 20% by 2010 and 50-70% by 2050 over 2006 levels
• Domestic carbon market and emissions trading regime
• Clean Technology Fund for developing new technologies
• Use of international credits such as the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism

We want to be a world leader in the fight against global warming and the development of clean energy technology, we want to lead not by lecturing but by example, we want to share our knowledge and experience, and we want to work with the entire international community in the quest for clean energy.

APEC leaders agreed to common “aspirational targets” at the close of the summit the following day, representing the first time both the United States and China have participated in an international climate change declaration. However, the declaration quickly rejected by environmental groups for not including legally binding targets.

Links:

• Transcript: Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Address to the APEC Business Summit
• Key Points of APEC’s Sydney Declaration on Climate Change

Stéphane Dion responded to speculation the government may prorogue the current session of parliament in order to set a new agenda with a Throne Speech this fall. Any progress on un-passed bills would be lost, unless the government took steps to reintroduce the bills into the new session.

Dion asked the government to carry forward Bill C-30, The Clean Air and Climate Change Act, should they decide to prorogue. Dion also re-stated his demand that the Canada immediately notify its NATO allies that it will end its combat mission in Afghanistan when it expires in 2009.

However, Dion would not commit to defeating the government over these issues, or to supporting a Bloc Québécois threat to bring down the government over Canada’s role in Afghanistan.

May 28 to June 8, 2007 – Prime Minister Stephen Harper takes Canada’s climate change plan to the G-8 meeting in Berlin, saying it can be an example to other nations of how a country can reduce greenhouse gases outside the Kyoto framework.

Harper pressed for an inclusive approach that would allow nations currently without Kyoto targets, who together produce 70% of the world’s greenhouse gases, to participate in an international agreement in the post-Kyoto round of negotiations.

Liberal leader Stéphane Dion, NDP leader Jack Layton, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, environmentalist David Suzuki continue their opposition to the government’s plan, saying Canada must meet its Kyoto targets beginning 2008.

Leaders at the G-8 agreed for the first time to work toward absolute cuts to greenhouse gas emissions.