The Hook

Barry Penner did not attend an environment ministers' meeting today in Ottawa, where his federal counterpart Jim Prentice discussed plans for next month's international climate summit in Copenhagen.

Penner said he was hoping to take part via video or teleconferencing, but learned Monday that was not possible because the meeting was to take place over dinner.

"I was certainly hoping to be able to participate in the meeting but I was expecting I could do it in a way that would save tax payers some money and allow me to be here in the legislature because we're still in session this week," Penner said.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty told reporters today he is concerned the federal government would "discriminate" against his province by using its progress on greenhouse gas reductions to give Alberta a break in a national cap-and-trade program.

"We have made considerable progress in our plan. We don't want that progress to benefit another part of the country, to relieve them of their obligation to make progress as well," McGuinty said.

On Monday, Quebec Premier Jean Charest said that his province will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent below 1990 levels by the year 2020 -- a goal similar to the target the European Union has adopted. He warned that Canada could face trade reprisals from the EU if it doesn't follow suit.

British Columbia's legislated greenhouse gas reduction target of 33 per cent below 2007 levels is "essentially equivalent to Quebec's," said Penner.

When asked what he thought of Ottawa's international position, Penner said he "was interested and still am in finding out exactly what they are proposing to take to Copenhagen. What Minister Prentice had told us is he would have more to tell us in a few weeks time."

-- With files from Andrew MacLeod.

Colleen Kimmett reports for The Tyee.