Baird expected to announce new emissions regulations

While the revised clean air act is still awaiting legislative approval the Conservatives keep announcing new environmental programs while spouting scary rhetoric about the recent bill sponsored by the Liberals that has already passed parliament. Where does all this end? In an election. Perhaps the Conservative strategy is to make the debate on the environment so absurd that people will become cynical and not vote on the basis of environmental issues at all!


Feds expected to introduce emission targets this week
Last Updated: Monday, April 23, 2007 | 8:34 AM ET
CBC News
Federal Environment Minister John Baird is expected to announce new regulations this week that would force industrial polluters in Canada to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases.

The plan will be part of the Harper government's response to the revamped version of its environment bill, now called the clean air and climate change act. The original clean air act was drastically rewritten by a special Commons committee over the winter.

Baird has declined to say whether he would bring the altered bill before Parliament for a vote but he has repeatedly promised new targets to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Following Earth Day celebrations on Sunday, Baird told CBC News that attempts to meet Canada's obligations under the Kyoto Protocol are not realistic.

Canadians are growing cynical of governments that make big promises and fail to follow through on them, he said, and his climate change plan will be "reasonable" and take into account the health of the economy.

"Listen, if Kyoto could be implemented very easily with no cost, the Liberals would have done it years ago," he said.

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Baird spent part of Earth Day helping to plant trees at a school in Ottawa, saying all Canadians can help fight climate change and teach their children about the importance of clean air.

Baird told students, parents and teachers of Lakeview Public School in Ottawa that the federal government has made the environment a priority.

"Canada's new government is serious about tackling climate change and protecting the air we breathe but we know we can't do it alone," Baird said. "Taking steps at home and teaching our children to protect the environment will be the key to securing a healthier future for all Canadians."

Baird was sharply criticized by environmental groups last week after he appeared before the Senate environment committee and said the only way to meet Canada's obligations under the Kyoto Protocol would be to manufacture a recession.

On Sunday, he said he was focusing on small steps that Canadians can take while the government prepares to unveil its larger plan on curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

"Earth Day is a great opportunity to reflect and be proud of what we've accomplished and to think about how we can all continue to work to protect our environment," he said.

"The trees we planted here today are a great example of a concrete action that all Canadians can take, right in their own backyard, to help improve the air we breathe."

Baird, who is expected to speak to an environmental group in Montreal on Monday, said the government will regulate 700 of the largest polluters in Canada through its new environmental measures.

Last Thursday, Baird said a Liberal bill calling for the government to honour Canada's commitment under the Kyoto treaty is a "risky, reckless scheme" that would cost 275,000 Canadians their jobs by 2009.

The private member's bill, introduced by Liberal MP Pablo Rodriguez and passed by the Commons, would require the government to honour Canada's commitment under the Kyoto treaty, which calls for a six per cent cut in greenhouse emissions from 1990 levels by 2012.