Finally caught in an "untruth" about giving the tar sands a special break after all, Canada's Conservative government is in full damage control mode at the worst possible time -- on the world stage at an international climate conference.
Remember those denials about special treatment for the tar sands some months ago? Well, turns out that the federal government in fact meant the opposite of what it said.
CBC broke the story about a leaked cabinet document confirming that the petroleum sector will get weaker pollution targets than others, plus all polluters will get the option of paying into a technology fund instead of reducing emissions.
Now, Environment Minister Jim Prentice is confirming that he hasn't ruled out special treatment for the tar sands and says it's because the Americans are making him do it.
Prentice is now saying that the tar sands qualify as "trade exposed" - the label used by the Americans for those industries (like steel companies) likely to re-locate elsewhere due to local carbon laws. Yes, that's right, the tar sands deposit, all 173 billion barrels, is going to pick up and move somewhere else.
Moreover, all Canadian polluters will need to be able to pay into a technology fund rather than reduce emissions -- even though American companies are given no such loophole under draft climate legislation there.
How the Canadian delegation can walk into negotiations here in Copenhagen and keep a straight face with other countries regarding its sincerity to meet even its own inadequate targets is in serious doubt given these latest reports.
How the Canadian people will feel about the Conservative government letting tar sands pollution explode while everyone else is supposed to be making reductions is another matter.
Matt Price is the program director for Environmental Defense. He is attending the COP 15 climate change conference in Copenhagen.
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freebear
2 years ago
No Big Surprise!
'Growth' depends on energy and especially portable energy!
Now if we would only get off the 'growth' addiction!
alive
2 years ago
change course!
Yeah, make us the laughing stock at the Copenhagen conference!
Nobody here are surprised, but I suspect that some of our old allies are surprised and disappointed.
This country has survived because of our rich rescources!
Many other countries survive by buying our rescources and manufacturing goods that we could as easily make right here.
We need a government that will stop export and concentrate on development of industry.
If we only supply ourselves we do not need the Tarsands!
salty dog
2 years ago
I`m Shocked
Really, Canada is not going to reduce tar sand emissions...Well,the only difference between the USA..CHINA...INDIA...and Canada is..
Canada got caught,the others can hide their true intentions better.
Copenhagen....what a joke
No country intends to reduce, the framework being developed is for a phony new money market,shell companies getting money from the other side of the ledger sheet.
LOL LOL HA HA.....
Gary
2 years ago
Absolute Bullshit
Wah, Wah,Wah. Jim Prentice says the Americans are making him do it. Is he not an elected CANADIAN MP? He represents Canada not the USA. Either do things our way or resign. We are a sovereign nation for crying out loud.
Wilfride Laurier
2 years ago
What a Surprise!
Given that Harponi and his gang are bought and paid for buy oil companies this shouldn't come as a surprise.
However, the federal NDP website is just as silent on the issue of climate change as the Conservatives. Other than offering criticism, I don't see any policy at all. Why? Well, smoke stack unions have put a stop to that.
However, at the end of the day, Harper knows that few Canadians want to make any contribution that would mean a change in lifestyle for them.
Frank
2 years ago
Wilf navigation skills
"However, the federal NDP website is just as silent on the issue of climate change as the Conservatives. "
Really? Obviously you didn't go to the website where'd you find not only press releases but also that "Environment" is one of only 4 topics under the menu item "Plan".
I think what happened is you went to the Liberal Party of Canada's website where indeed you'd find nothing about climate change or the environment.
Barryeng
2 years ago
Alive you are wrong. The
Alive you are wrong. The rest of the world is Not laughing at us, they are shaking their heads in disgust. Case in point . . . Canada was deliberately left out of a list of world leaders that met with Obama in Copenhagen.
The world vision of Canada has been slipping seriously for many years, under many administrations, and unless we are going to seriously address some of the problems that our politicians have caused, we are soon going to be relegated to third world status, without the concerns that most people have for third world problems. And, we have no one to blame but ourselves.