Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird left for Egypt Monday bound for Egypt. He is expected to be in Cairo this Thursday. He will meet with government officials in an attempt to obtain the release of Mohamed Fahmy an Egyptian-Canadian journalist.
Baird will discuss Fahmy's imprisonment with the Egyptian foreign minister, religious leaders, and even President el-Sisi.
Fahmy's parents moved to Canada from Egypt in 1991 and Fahmy became a Canadian with them. Fahmy is a television producer. He worked not only for Al Jazeera but for CNN. When he was arrested back in December of 2013 he was the Cairo bureau chief for Al Jazeera.
Under President el-Sisi, Egypt has passed draconian anti-terror laws that repress free speech. Other laws have resulted in the Muslim Brotherhood being declared a terrorist group. Anyone who writes anything positive about the group or criticizes the draconian actions against them is liable to be tried and convicted under anti-terror laws.
When Fahmy was arrested, he was accused of spreading false news and of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood. His lawyers are attempting to have him released and deported to Canada. His fiancee, Marwa Omara, maintains that Fahmy is innocent. She has managed to obtain a visa to travel with Fahmy back to Canada should he be released.
Recently, an Egyptian appeals court ordered a retrial of three imprisoned Al Jazeera journalists one of whom is Fahmy.
Under a new law passed in Egypt in November, foreigners who are convicted or are suspects can be deported to their own countries for trial or sentencing. Fahmy's family hopes that this will happen in the case of Fahmy. An Egyptian official told the family that arrangement for the deportation of Fahmy to Canada was in its final phase.
Baird has previously claimed that Canada has been working behind the scenes to obtain Fahmy's release. Baird has had several meetings with Egyptian officials during which he has worked for Fahmy's release. Fahmy has been imprisoned for more than a year now. He was sentenced originally to seven years. According to a report on CTVnews Fahmy would have to agree to give up his Egyptian citizenship if he is deported to Canada. Al Jazeera has always denied the charges against Fahmy and his two colleagues. According to Al Jazeera, the three were arrested just for doing their job.
Showing posts with label John Baird. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Baird. Show all posts
Friday, January 16, 2015
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Harper closes down RIghts and Democracy agency
The Rights and Democracy agency has the job of monitoring human rights abroad and promoting democracy. The agency was actually created by another Conservative government in 1988. The Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird confirmed the agency would be closed down.
Baird noted:"For some time, the many challenges of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development (also known as Rights and Democracy) have been well publicized," ."It is time to put these past challenges behind us and move forward."
The internal fights in the organization were fostered by appointments made by the same Conservative Harper government that now is closing the group down. In particular the Harper government goes after any group critical of Israel's human rights record.
A new chairman appointed by the Conservatives complained that organizations that had received grants were tied to terrorism. Employees revolted, said they had no confidence in the chair and asked him to resign. No need. Not being able to satisfactorily control the organization and after poisoning the atmosphere the Harper government will now put it out of its misery and move on.
In spite of not supporting euthanasia Harper think it is OK for government agencies. The Conservative government has cut the funding of other groups it does not like such as the Canadian Council for International Cooperation and KAIROS. For more see this article.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Conservative excuses on environmental policy
Baird just follows the U.S. and then defends his action by claiming that there is no use doing anything or taking a progressive position when the U.S. will not go along. This contrasts with the Europeans. Far from Canada being on the world stage as far as environmental issues is concerned we are the world stooge. Baird also is going to wait until late 2009 and the UN conference to come up with anything new. No wonder the Conservatives are losing ground even against wimps such as the Liberals.
Don't expect climate deal at G-8 summit, Baird says TheStar.com - Canada - Don't expect climate deal at G-8 summit, Baird says
Ottawa looks beyond this week's global warming talks to stance next U.S. administration will take
July 06, 2008 Les WhittingtonOttawa Bureau
CALGARY–Plotting its stance in the high-profile global climate change negotiations, the Harper government is looking beyond President George W. Bush to the next U.S. administration.
That's partly why Environment Minister John Baird is warning not to expect a breakthrough on efforts to fight global warming at the Group of Eight summit in Japan.
"I don't think we're expecting a deal" on emissions-reduction targets at the three-day meeting, Baird told reporters en route to Japan.
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda had once expressed hope that the G-8 leaders would reach a dramatic agreement during this year's summit that would signal their willingness to take drastic steps to tackle global warming.
But European members of the G-8, who favour tough emissions-reduction targets, are at odds with Bush, whose government never ratified the Kyoto Protocol for reduction of greenhouse gases.
In recent years, Canada has been harshly criticized at home and abroad for siding with Bush on the key issue of which countries should agree to mandatory emissions cuts in the years ahead.
Like Bush, Prime Minister Stephen Harper says there's no point in large, developed economies pledging to meet tough targets unless developing countries like China and India agree to binding greenhouse gas reduction plans of their own.
With developing countries arguing forcefully that it's up to the major polluters among industrial nations to take the lead, this issue has contributed to the slow pace of international co-operation on global warming.
Trying to find the middle ground in this global struggle over how fast to attack the causes of climate change, the Harper government is now focusing beyond the G-8 on global negotiations being sponsored by the United Nations.
After saying no breakthrough is likely in the next few days in Japan, Baird told the media an agreement "will come under the United Nations auspices in Copenhagen."
International talks to develop a follow-up agreement to Kyoto, which expires in 2012, are slated to wind up at a conference in Copenhagen in late 2009. About 190 countries, including Canada and the U.S., are taking part.
Harper has made no secret of the fact that he expects the next U.S. administration, whether led by Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama or Republican John McCain, to be more committed to tackling global warming than Bush.
And Baird is defending Canada's stance, saying the Harper government has already set emission reduction goals for 2020. But critics say the government's plan is too weak to bring about the stiff cuts needed if Canada is going to play its part.
The G-8, which also includes Britain, France, Italy, Russia and Germany, meets in Hokkaido, Japan, today through Wednesday.
Don't expect climate deal at G-8 summit, Baird says TheStar.com - Canada - Don't expect climate deal at G-8 summit, Baird says
Ottawa looks beyond this week's global warming talks to stance next U.S. administration will take
July 06, 2008 Les WhittingtonOttawa Bureau
CALGARY–Plotting its stance in the high-profile global climate change negotiations, the Harper government is looking beyond President George W. Bush to the next U.S. administration.
That's partly why Environment Minister John Baird is warning not to expect a breakthrough on efforts to fight global warming at the Group of Eight summit in Japan.
"I don't think we're expecting a deal" on emissions-reduction targets at the three-day meeting, Baird told reporters en route to Japan.
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda had once expressed hope that the G-8 leaders would reach a dramatic agreement during this year's summit that would signal their willingness to take drastic steps to tackle global warming.
But European members of the G-8, who favour tough emissions-reduction targets, are at odds with Bush, whose government never ratified the Kyoto Protocol for reduction of greenhouse gases.
In recent years, Canada has been harshly criticized at home and abroad for siding with Bush on the key issue of which countries should agree to mandatory emissions cuts in the years ahead.
Like Bush, Prime Minister Stephen Harper says there's no point in large, developed economies pledging to meet tough targets unless developing countries like China and India agree to binding greenhouse gas reduction plans of their own.
With developing countries arguing forcefully that it's up to the major polluters among industrial nations to take the lead, this issue has contributed to the slow pace of international co-operation on global warming.
Trying to find the middle ground in this global struggle over how fast to attack the causes of climate change, the Harper government is now focusing beyond the G-8 on global negotiations being sponsored by the United Nations.
After saying no breakthrough is likely in the next few days in Japan, Baird told the media an agreement "will come under the United Nations auspices in Copenhagen."
International talks to develop a follow-up agreement to Kyoto, which expires in 2012, are slated to wind up at a conference in Copenhagen in late 2009. About 190 countries, including Canada and the U.S., are taking part.
Harper has made no secret of the fact that he expects the next U.S. administration, whether led by Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama or Republican John McCain, to be more committed to tackling global warming than Bush.
And Baird is defending Canada's stance, saying the Harper government has already set emission reduction goals for 2020. But critics say the government's plan is too weak to bring about the stiff cuts needed if Canada is going to play its part.
The G-8, which also includes Britain, France, Italy, Russia and Germany, meets in Hokkaido, Japan, today through Wednesday.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Baird ducks meeting with activists
Most of the Conservative program on the environment is smoke and mirrors and their international role is to play tag team as chief fossil opposing progressive change Canada's partner being the US. The Conservative goal of reducing emissions by 20 percent takes 2006 as a baseline rather than 1990 as other nations have done.
Baird accused of ducking meeting with activists
Updated Tue. Dec. 11 2007 6:21 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Environment Minister John Baird told reporters in Bali on Tuesday that while Canada believes in hard targets to cut greenhouse emissions, now is not the time to introduce them.
The international community has gathered in Indonesia to hammer out initial details of a post-Kyoto pact to deal with climate change.
Canada has been among the leaders -- along with the United States and Japan -- in opposing a reference to specific goals for developed countries to cut emissions by 2020.
A draft resolution introduced at the summit would have asked developed countries to cut emissions by 25 to 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020. The whole world would be required to stabilize emissions within 15 years.
Baird told reporters at the conference that "We're not here to do the formal negotiations, we're here to launch negotiations."
Baird accused of ducking meeting
Baird was supposed to explain Canada's position at a meeting with non-governmental activists attending the conference. He showed up for the meeting, but quickly left before speaking.
Canadian activists and others waited for the minister to return. But they were later told Baird had to attend negotiations and would not be back.
"The minister who was supposed to address us was AWOL. He ran away," said Olivier Lavoie of the Canadian Youth in Action.
Lavoie said the minister probably did not want to confront young activists critical of Canada's stand.
Europeans push for targets
Stavros Dimas, European commissioner for the environment, said setting a target for 2020 is essential to hold the global temperature rise to two degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels, something necessary for staving off dangerous climate change.
"We need this range of reductions by developed countries," he told reporters Tuesday. "Science tells us that these reductions are necessary. Logic requires that we listen to science."
Baird has been saying that Canada intends to reduce emissions by 20 per cent by 2020.
However, the Tories use a baseline year of 2006, not the much tougher 1990 standard that all other nations use.
Climate analysts have said the Tories' plan -- if it even works -- would leave Canada's emissions two per cent above 1990 levels by 2020.
The European Union wants to cut its emissions by at least 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020.
Canada's Kyoto target is to cut emissions by six per cent below 1990 levels by 2012. However, greenhouse gas emissions rose by about 27 per cent between 1990 and 2004.
Dion calls for leadership
Meanwhile Liberal Leader Stephane Dion, who is now in Bali, said delegates need to show leadership.
Baird has repeatedly argued that Canada will not accept any deal unless it includes major polluters like the United States, China and India.
"It's certainly not enough to say, 'I will do something only if the others do something'," Dion told a meeting of municipal leaders. "The good philosophy is to say, 'I will do the most I can and I ask you to do the same.'"
Dion, who calls the Tory approach "a recipe for failure," has met with Canadian environmentalists -- something the government delegation hasn't done -- and will meet with UN climate boss Yvo de Boer, who had some pointed words about the Canadian position.
"I personally find it interesting to hear Canada just a little while ago indicating it would not meet its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol," de Boer said Monday. "Now (it's) calling on developing countries to take binding reduction targets."
Canada is one of the world's top per capita emitters of greenhouse gases, along with the United States and Australia.
Canada and the U.S. emitted about 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents per capita in 2004. In comparison, China emitted 3.8 tonnes and India 1.2 tonnes.
However, China's huge population, booming economy, and heavy reliance on coal-fired electricity means it may have already passed the United States as the world's top total emitter.
Tuesday also marks a key climate anniversary: The Kyoto Protocol was signed 10 years ago in Japan. The Bali talks are part of the process of developing a post-Kyoto treaty.
Kyoto required 36 industrialized countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by five per cent below 1990 levels by 2012.
The United States refused to ratify Kyoto. U.S. President George Bush said cuts would hurt his country's economy. He was also opposed to excluding developing countries from making emissions cuts.
With files from The Associated Press
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baird accused of ducking meeting with activists
Updated Tue. Dec. 11 2007 6:21 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Environment Minister John Baird told reporters in Bali on Tuesday that while Canada believes in hard targets to cut greenhouse emissions, now is not the time to introduce them.
The international community has gathered in Indonesia to hammer out initial details of a post-Kyoto pact to deal with climate change.
Canada has been among the leaders -- along with the United States and Japan -- in opposing a reference to specific goals for developed countries to cut emissions by 2020.
A draft resolution introduced at the summit would have asked developed countries to cut emissions by 25 to 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020. The whole world would be required to stabilize emissions within 15 years.
Baird told reporters at the conference that "We're not here to do the formal negotiations, we're here to launch negotiations."
Baird accused of ducking meeting
Baird was supposed to explain Canada's position at a meeting with non-governmental activists attending the conference. He showed up for the meeting, but quickly left before speaking.
Canadian activists and others waited for the minister to return. But they were later told Baird had to attend negotiations and would not be back.
"The minister who was supposed to address us was AWOL. He ran away," said Olivier Lavoie of the Canadian Youth in Action.
Lavoie said the minister probably did not want to confront young activists critical of Canada's stand.
Europeans push for targets
Stavros Dimas, European commissioner for the environment, said setting a target for 2020 is essential to hold the global temperature rise to two degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels, something necessary for staving off dangerous climate change.
"We need this range of reductions by developed countries," he told reporters Tuesday. "Science tells us that these reductions are necessary. Logic requires that we listen to science."
Baird has been saying that Canada intends to reduce emissions by 20 per cent by 2020.
However, the Tories use a baseline year of 2006, not the much tougher 1990 standard that all other nations use.
Climate analysts have said the Tories' plan -- if it even works -- would leave Canada's emissions two per cent above 1990 levels by 2020.
The European Union wants to cut its emissions by at least 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020.
Canada's Kyoto target is to cut emissions by six per cent below 1990 levels by 2012. However, greenhouse gas emissions rose by about 27 per cent between 1990 and 2004.
Dion calls for leadership
Meanwhile Liberal Leader Stephane Dion, who is now in Bali, said delegates need to show leadership.
Baird has repeatedly argued that Canada will not accept any deal unless it includes major polluters like the United States, China and India.
"It's certainly not enough to say, 'I will do something only if the others do something'," Dion told a meeting of municipal leaders. "The good philosophy is to say, 'I will do the most I can and I ask you to do the same.'"
Dion, who calls the Tory approach "a recipe for failure," has met with Canadian environmentalists -- something the government delegation hasn't done -- and will meet with UN climate boss Yvo de Boer, who had some pointed words about the Canadian position.
"I personally find it interesting to hear Canada just a little while ago indicating it would not meet its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol," de Boer said Monday. "Now (it's) calling on developing countries to take binding reduction targets."
Canada is one of the world's top per capita emitters of greenhouse gases, along with the United States and Australia.
Canada and the U.S. emitted about 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents per capita in 2004. In comparison, China emitted 3.8 tonnes and India 1.2 tonnes.
However, China's huge population, booming economy, and heavy reliance on coal-fired electricity means it may have already passed the United States as the world's top total emitter.
Tuesday also marks a key climate anniversary: The Kyoto Protocol was signed 10 years ago in Japan. The Bali talks are part of the process of developing a post-Kyoto treaty.
Kyoto required 36 industrialized countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by five per cent below 1990 levels by 2012.
The United States refused to ratify Kyoto. U.S. President George Bush said cuts would hurt his country's economy. He was also opposed to excluding developing countries from making emissions cuts.
With files from The Associated Press
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Baird takes centre stage at Bali
This is from the Harper Index a useful source for articles critical of the Harper government. This article is valuable in that it goes into some of the Baird's background and shows his consistently reactionary stance on issues dating back to his days in the Harris common nonsense government.
Baird takes centre stage in Bali within days of slush fund testimony to committee
Environment minister "haunted" by past and present as political operator opposed to environmental initiatives.
BALI, INDONESIA, December 10, 2007: John Baird is a centre of international attention at this week's climate change talks here. The international community is adjusting to a Canada that initially promoted the Kyoto protocol and whose top ministers are now undermining it with proposed revisions that appear to favour big polluters such as Alberta's oil industry.
Observers who haven't followed recent Canadian politics may be surprised at Canada's environment minister, but John Baird's opposition to Kyoto is consistent with his record. Before, and ever since he got involved in federal politics, he has actively opposed Kyoto and promoted industrial interests over environment ones. He has managed to cultivate a better public image than his predecessor Rona Ambrose without actually changing course.
Although Ambrose was criticized for the cuts that were made to environment programs when she was minister, many were directed by Baird, who was then Treasury Board chair. Under Baird's tenure there, his officials suspended all payments on pledges for United Nations work to protect the environment. This included payments to the United Nations Environment Programme and to international treaties such as the Framework Convention on Climate Change.
While at Treasury Board, Baird also became involved in the fight against light rail transit in his hometown of Ottawa. Ultimately, he made decisive moves that helped kill the proposal at a cost to municipal taxpayers of hundreds of millions of dollars in cancellation fees.
As environment minister, he presides over a fund that critics claim is more about politics than global warming. Last week he testified to Parliament's environment and sustainable development committee about the government's $1.5 billion Canada Eco Trust Fund for Clean Air and Climate Change. The online news bulletin DeSmogBlog reports that Baird "waffled about heavily, and refused to provide a full accounting" for spending under the program, which some observers have likened to a political slush fund.
Skeptics cite the $349.9 million announced in February 2007 for Quebec - the first round of funding under the program - as an example of how that money is being used politically. At the time, an spring election was widely anticipated, with the province of Quebec a main battleground in the Conservative's fight to attain a majority government.
Three weeks ago, Auditor General, Sheila Fraser said about of the fund: "We are deeply concerned about very large transfers being made purportedly for certain purposes. But when you look at the actual agreements there are absolutely no conditions requiring the recipient to use the moneys for the purposes being announced." Provinces are free to use Eco Trust money however they like. Since before his days as a Mike Harris Cabinet minister, Baird, who worked for defence minister Perrin Beatty in the Mulroney era, has a history as a political operative. He has repeatedly been called upon to oppose key objectives of the environment movement.
In 2002, Toronto's NOW Magazine reported on a meeting in that city by what proved to be a short-lived industry front group called the Canadian Coalition for Responsible Environmental Solutions (CCRES). Baird made a passionate anti-Kyoto speech there, reported Greenpeace campaigner John Matlow in Toronto's NOW Magazine.
Last month, Ecojustice (formerly Sierra Legal Defence Fund) filed a lawsuit alleging that Baird broke the law when he directed mining companies to ignore their legal responsibility to report millions of kilograms of pollution from their operations under the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI).
"The law is clear: Mining companies in Canada are legally required to report the amount of chemicals they are releasing into the environment," said Justin Duncan, Staff Lawyer with Ecojustice. "Instead, at the direction of the Minister of Environment, these companies continue to flout the law by not reporting massive amounts of toxic tailings they dump into our environment each year." Baird, they say, is encouraging mining companies to hide the amount of toxic material they are dumping.
Professor Nancy Doubleday, of the Carleton University Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, says Baird has ghosts to face in the context of becoming environment minister. The first, she says, is the ghost of Walkerton, the Ontario town where eight people died due to Conservative deregulation and privatization of water inspection services.
"Although not causally tied to the deaths" there, she says he "had an opportunity to influence partisan initiatives and deregulatory fervour in the dismantling of (among other things) the environmental works of a province (Ontario) that had once led the country in matters of environmental quality."
She says he is also haunted by the ghost of light rail and urban responsibility. "Here we recall partisan intervention in intergovernmental relations, derailing the new deal for cities, where the majority of Canadians (for the first time in our history) now live."
Baird takes centre stage in Bali within days of slush fund testimony to committee
Environment minister "haunted" by past and present as political operator opposed to environmental initiatives.
BALI, INDONESIA, December 10, 2007: John Baird is a centre of international attention at this week's climate change talks here. The international community is adjusting to a Canada that initially promoted the Kyoto protocol and whose top ministers are now undermining it with proposed revisions that appear to favour big polluters such as Alberta's oil industry.
Observers who haven't followed recent Canadian politics may be surprised at Canada's environment minister, but John Baird's opposition to Kyoto is consistent with his record. Before, and ever since he got involved in federal politics, he has actively opposed Kyoto and promoted industrial interests over environment ones. He has managed to cultivate a better public image than his predecessor Rona Ambrose without actually changing course.
Although Ambrose was criticized for the cuts that were made to environment programs when she was minister, many were directed by Baird, who was then Treasury Board chair. Under Baird's tenure there, his officials suspended all payments on pledges for United Nations work to protect the environment. This included payments to the United Nations Environment Programme and to international treaties such as the Framework Convention on Climate Change.
While at Treasury Board, Baird also became involved in the fight against light rail transit in his hometown of Ottawa. Ultimately, he made decisive moves that helped kill the proposal at a cost to municipal taxpayers of hundreds of millions of dollars in cancellation fees.
As environment minister, he presides over a fund that critics claim is more about politics than global warming. Last week he testified to Parliament's environment and sustainable development committee about the government's $1.5 billion Canada Eco Trust Fund for Clean Air and Climate Change. The online news bulletin DeSmogBlog reports that Baird "waffled about heavily, and refused to provide a full accounting" for spending under the program, which some observers have likened to a political slush fund.
Skeptics cite the $349.9 million announced in February 2007 for Quebec - the first round of funding under the program - as an example of how that money is being used politically. At the time, an spring election was widely anticipated, with the province of Quebec a main battleground in the Conservative's fight to attain a majority government.
Three weeks ago, Auditor General, Sheila Fraser said about of the fund: "We are deeply concerned about very large transfers being made purportedly for certain purposes. But when you look at the actual agreements there are absolutely no conditions requiring the recipient to use the moneys for the purposes being announced." Provinces are free to use Eco Trust money however they like. Since before his days as a Mike Harris Cabinet minister, Baird, who worked for defence minister Perrin Beatty in the Mulroney era, has a history as a political operative. He has repeatedly been called upon to oppose key objectives of the environment movement.
In 2002, Toronto's NOW Magazine reported on a meeting in that city by what proved to be a short-lived industry front group called the Canadian Coalition for Responsible Environmental Solutions (CCRES). Baird made a passionate anti-Kyoto speech there, reported Greenpeace campaigner John Matlow in Toronto's NOW Magazine.
Last month, Ecojustice (formerly Sierra Legal Defence Fund) filed a lawsuit alleging that Baird broke the law when he directed mining companies to ignore their legal responsibility to report millions of kilograms of pollution from their operations under the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI).
"The law is clear: Mining companies in Canada are legally required to report the amount of chemicals they are releasing into the environment," said Justin Duncan, Staff Lawyer with Ecojustice. "Instead, at the direction of the Minister of Environment, these companies continue to flout the law by not reporting massive amounts of toxic tailings they dump into our environment each year." Baird, they say, is encouraging mining companies to hide the amount of toxic material they are dumping.
Professor Nancy Doubleday, of the Carleton University Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, says Baird has ghosts to face in the context of becoming environment minister. The first, she says, is the ghost of Walkerton, the Ontario town where eight people died due to Conservative deregulation and privatization of water inspection services.
"Although not causally tied to the deaths" there, she says he "had an opportunity to influence partisan initiatives and deregulatory fervour in the dismantling of (among other things) the environmental works of a province (Ontario) that had once led the country in matters of environmental quality."
She says he is also haunted by the ghost of light rail and urban responsibility. "Here we recall partisan intervention in intergovernmental relations, derailing the new deal for cities, where the majority of Canadians (for the first time in our history) now live."
Monday, December 10, 2007
Canada signing climate treaty without US like unilateral disarmament: Baird
I presume then that all those countries except the US who signed Kyoto were unilaterally disarming. Of course if Canada did actually unilaterally disarm the US might invade and force us to devote a reasonable amount of our budget to our armed forces to be used to help out US world hegemony.
Canada signing climate treaty without U.S. like 'unilateral disarmament': Baird
But opposition accuses Conservatives of intentionally sabotaging climate talks
Last Updated: Sunday, December 9, 2007 | 1:06 PM ET
The Canadian Press
Canada's environment minister has dismissed the notion of signing a climate-change treaty without the United States, saying it would handicap the Canadian economy without reversing greenhouse gas emissions.
Environment Minister John Baird, at the world climate summit in Bali on Sunday, has dismissed the notion of signing a climate-change treaty without the U.S., saying it would handicap the economy without reversing greenhouse gases.
(Ivanoh Demers/Canadian Press)
As the world gathers in Bali, Indonesia, to work toward a successor treaty to the Kyoto Protocol, the Americans are already making it clear they will not submit to binding emissions targets.
In an interview with the Canadian Press, John Baird said Canada hopes to reach a deal within two years — but only if it applies targets for the first time to all major polluters.
He used a military analogy to suggest that Canada would be handicapping its economy by adopting environmental restrictions without being followed by its closest neighbour and trading partner.
Continue Article
"Our major economic competition is with the United States," Baird said in an interview before he arrived in Bali this weekend.
"You can have unilateral disarmament. Some might call it noble — but it's not very smart."
He derided the logic of, for example, closing a coal plant in Ontario, only to import more coal power from Michigan. The end result is lost Canadian jobs with no benefit to the atmosphere, he said.
Signs of a stalemate have cast an additional cloud as about 190 countries meet at a Bali summit already rife with increasingly dismal warnings about the state of the Earth's climate.
Greenhouse gas emissions continue to skyrocket — with the United States, China, and India leading the way. That's why Baird says the climate deal that replaces Kyoto after it expires in 2012 must hold those countries to binding targets, which Kyoto did not do.
Baird insisting on binding targets for all
Under Kyoto, signed under a previous Liberal government, Canada agreed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by six per cent below 1990 levels by 2008-2012. However, Greenpeace said before the Bali conference that Canada's emissions had actually increased by 25 per cent by the end of 2005 — just before the Liberals fell to Stephen Harper's Conservatives in the 2006 election.
The Conservatives say Canada will insist on binding targets for all major polluters — or there's no deal.
The Tories' insistence on U.S. involvement is not the only sign of a stalemate in Bali. None of the big three polluters have offered any hint of accepting the targets that Baird calls a prerequisite for a deal.
Baird also contends that the world's greenhouse gas levels would surge even if all rich countries eliminated their emissions while poorer ones continued business as usual.
"That's an environmental Armageddon," he said.
Tories hope to pin failure on someone else: opposition critic
China, India, and the United States already account for more than half the world's emissions. Since none of those countries have shown any willingness to accept targets, Canada's opposition parties say it's pretty clear what the Tory strategy is.
But China and India are showing unprecedented willingness at the Bali summit to take some initial steps to fight climate change, said NDP environment critic Nathan Cullen, who accused the Conservatives of intentionally sabotaging climate talks.
"Baird is putting a gun to their head," Cullen said. "He'll scare them off. He's looking for someone else to own the failure [of negotiations]. It was [Liberal Leader] Stéphane Dion's fault before, now it's the fault of the Chinese."
On Tuesday, Dion told the House of Commons that he feared the Bali summit would falter without Canada's support, saying, "The government is telling the world it will do nothing unless everyone does something. This is a recipe for disaster."
Baird made it clear that Canada does not expect developing countries to adopt the same targets as rich ones.
The Tories believe that every country should face targets, but that those targets should be flexible to account for each country's own circumstances. Developing countries could have softer targets, Baird said.
"We [richer countries] can go faster and we can do more," he said. "But we need everybody acting."
Canada signing climate treaty without U.S. like 'unilateral disarmament': Baird
But opposition accuses Conservatives of intentionally sabotaging climate talks
Last Updated: Sunday, December 9, 2007 | 1:06 PM ET
The Canadian Press
Canada's environment minister has dismissed the notion of signing a climate-change treaty without the United States, saying it would handicap the Canadian economy without reversing greenhouse gas emissions.
Environment Minister John Baird, at the world climate summit in Bali on Sunday, has dismissed the notion of signing a climate-change treaty without the U.S., saying it would handicap the economy without reversing greenhouse gases.
(Ivanoh Demers/Canadian Press)
As the world gathers in Bali, Indonesia, to work toward a successor treaty to the Kyoto Protocol, the Americans are already making it clear they will not submit to binding emissions targets.
In an interview with the Canadian Press, John Baird said Canada hopes to reach a deal within two years — but only if it applies targets for the first time to all major polluters.
He used a military analogy to suggest that Canada would be handicapping its economy by adopting environmental restrictions without being followed by its closest neighbour and trading partner.
Continue Article
"Our major economic competition is with the United States," Baird said in an interview before he arrived in Bali this weekend.
"You can have unilateral disarmament. Some might call it noble — but it's not very smart."
He derided the logic of, for example, closing a coal plant in Ontario, only to import more coal power from Michigan. The end result is lost Canadian jobs with no benefit to the atmosphere, he said.
Signs of a stalemate have cast an additional cloud as about 190 countries meet at a Bali summit already rife with increasingly dismal warnings about the state of the Earth's climate.
Greenhouse gas emissions continue to skyrocket — with the United States, China, and India leading the way. That's why Baird says the climate deal that replaces Kyoto after it expires in 2012 must hold those countries to binding targets, which Kyoto did not do.
Baird insisting on binding targets for all
Under Kyoto, signed under a previous Liberal government, Canada agreed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by six per cent below 1990 levels by 2008-2012. However, Greenpeace said before the Bali conference that Canada's emissions had actually increased by 25 per cent by the end of 2005 — just before the Liberals fell to Stephen Harper's Conservatives in the 2006 election.
The Conservatives say Canada will insist on binding targets for all major polluters — or there's no deal.
The Tories' insistence on U.S. involvement is not the only sign of a stalemate in Bali. None of the big three polluters have offered any hint of accepting the targets that Baird calls a prerequisite for a deal.
Baird also contends that the world's greenhouse gas levels would surge even if all rich countries eliminated their emissions while poorer ones continued business as usual.
"That's an environmental Armageddon," he said.
Tories hope to pin failure on someone else: opposition critic
China, India, and the United States already account for more than half the world's emissions. Since none of those countries have shown any willingness to accept targets, Canada's opposition parties say it's pretty clear what the Tory strategy is.
But China and India are showing unprecedented willingness at the Bali summit to take some initial steps to fight climate change, said NDP environment critic Nathan Cullen, who accused the Conservatives of intentionally sabotaging climate talks.
"Baird is putting a gun to their head," Cullen said. "He'll scare them off. He's looking for someone else to own the failure [of negotiations]. It was [Liberal Leader] Stéphane Dion's fault before, now it's the fault of the Chinese."
On Tuesday, Dion told the House of Commons that he feared the Bali summit would falter without Canada's support, saying, "The government is telling the world it will do nothing unless everyone does something. This is a recipe for disaster."
Baird made it clear that Canada does not expect developing countries to adopt the same targets as rich ones.
The Tories believe that every country should face targets, but that those targets should be flexible to account for each country's own circumstances. Developing countries could have softer targets, Baird said.
"We [richer countries] can go faster and we can do more," he said. "But we need everybody acting."
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Suzuki versus Baird!
I suppose it is not surprising that Suzuki would rake Baird over the coals. It is interesting that Baird claims the Conservatives are ready to fight an election over the environment. It would seem risky to do this given the Conservative record and the constant withering criticism of their plans by environmentalists. However, the Liberal record is disastrous as well. Maybe the Conservatives think that this will neutralise the issue so that neither party will win many votes because of the environment. The issue may not have that much effect on the outcome after all if there is an election.
Suzuki confronts environment minister over green plan
Last Updated: Friday, April 27, 2007 | 8:22 PM ET
CBC News
Environment Minister John Baird defended his government's climate change plan Friday, which included fending off a public confrontation with Canada's best known environmentalist.
Environment Minister John Baird defends his government's climate change plan at the Green Living show in Toronto Friday.
(Peter Hadzipetros/CBC) Baird had just kicked off Toronto's consumer Green Living Show when he was approached by David Suzuki, who let the minister know what he thought of the government's plan.
"It's a disappointment, John," Suzuki said as he beat a path to the minister.
"You know what you promised was a long way from what you delivered."
Baird countered that "this is more action than any government in Canadian history has ever taken."
Continue Article
But Suzuki was not impressed, saying that it's not enough.
"He promised all kinds of great things and it's been a big disappointment to see what it is. It's all smoke and mirrors and what he's going to do is allow industry to continue to increase their emissions."
Environmentalist David Suzuki, right, talks to Environment Minister John Baird about the Conservative government's environmental plan.
(CBC) Suzuki later told CBC News the Conservatives' new plan is an embarrassment because it falls short of what is needed and what Canadians want.
"What the government is trying to do is give the illusion of movement by talking about reducing the intensity, and hard targets," he said.
"The reality is it's really a cover for allowing industry to increase its pollution, so it's not seriously addressing the emissions problem."
But Baird said the Conservatives' path to curbing greenhouse gas emissions is a "balanced" approach.
The plan, entitled Turning the Corner, calls on Canada to reduce its current greenhouse gas emissions by 150 million tonnes by 2020 and will require most industries in Canada to reduce greenhouse gases by 18 per cent by 2010.
Baird says he's ready for election on plan's merits
"We think we struck the right balance," Baird told CBC News on Friday. "This is a strong, balanced, and fair plan."
Baird said he was ready to go to an election on the plan's merits, but added it wasn't up to the government to decide.
"If the Liberals or the NDP want to take it to the people, that will be their call, not mine," he said.
Some industrial leaders have grudgingly accepted the plan, while opposition parties and environmental groups are slamming it.
The plan sees Canada reaching its Kyoto Protocol emissions targets between 2020 and 2025, instead of 2012 as laid out in the international plan to curb climate change.
Industry isn't facing hard caps on greenhouse gas emissions, but is asked to meet "intensity-based" targets, based on units of production.
This means companies must reduce the amount of emissions used to produce their individual products, but they don't have to reduce emissions overall. If a company ramps up its production, its total emissions can rise.
'Time to move forward'
Baird acknowledged environmentalists' demands Friday.
"In Canada, environmentalists have demanded perfection, yet nothing has happened," Baird said.
"It's time to move forward; our plan does that."
Baird again took aim at Stéphane Dion and the previous Liberal government for the delay in reaching its Kyoto targets, noting the Liberals allowed greenhouse gases to go up by 27 per cent while they were in power.
"I can't turn the hands of the clock back," he said. "I can't take responsibility for 13 years of inaction … but our government can take responsibility for taking action now."
Technology the 'real answer': Baird
Baird also said significant environmental and economic benefits would emerge through developing technologies such as carbon capturing.
"I think technology is going to be the real answer," he said.
The Conservatives estimate the plan will cost the Canadian economy between $7 billion and $8 billion a year at most, but not many jobs will be lost.
"Some in industry say it goes too far," Baird acknowledged.
The government says there will be benefits to implementing the plan. By 2015, it expects to save $6.4 billion in health-care costs because fewer people will be suffering from pollution-related illnesses.
The plan touches on emissions from cars, trucks and household appliances, but primarily the plan takes aim at industry, which accounts for nearly 50 per cent of Canada's total emissions.
Canada's industrial sector will be responsible for 40 per cent — or 60 million tonnes — of Canada's total 150-million-tonne greenhouse gas reduction.
Companies that were set up before 2004 will be required to cut back their greenhouse gas emissions by 18 per cent by 2010. After that, they have to reduce amounts by two per cent a year.
With files from the Canadian Press
Suzuki confronts environment minister over green plan
Last Updated: Friday, April 27, 2007 | 8:22 PM ET
CBC News
Environment Minister John Baird defended his government's climate change plan Friday, which included fending off a public confrontation with Canada's best known environmentalist.
Environment Minister John Baird defends his government's climate change plan at the Green Living show in Toronto Friday.
(Peter Hadzipetros/CBC) Baird had just kicked off Toronto's consumer Green Living Show when he was approached by David Suzuki, who let the minister know what he thought of the government's plan.
"It's a disappointment, John," Suzuki said as he beat a path to the minister.
"You know what you promised was a long way from what you delivered."
Baird countered that "this is more action than any government in Canadian history has ever taken."
Continue Article
But Suzuki was not impressed, saying that it's not enough.
"He promised all kinds of great things and it's been a big disappointment to see what it is. It's all smoke and mirrors and what he's going to do is allow industry to continue to increase their emissions."
Environmentalist David Suzuki, right, talks to Environment Minister John Baird about the Conservative government's environmental plan.
(CBC) Suzuki later told CBC News the Conservatives' new plan is an embarrassment because it falls short of what is needed and what Canadians want.
"What the government is trying to do is give the illusion of movement by talking about reducing the intensity, and hard targets," he said.
"The reality is it's really a cover for allowing industry to increase its pollution, so it's not seriously addressing the emissions problem."
But Baird said the Conservatives' path to curbing greenhouse gas emissions is a "balanced" approach.
The plan, entitled Turning the Corner, calls on Canada to reduce its current greenhouse gas emissions by 150 million tonnes by 2020 and will require most industries in Canada to reduce greenhouse gases by 18 per cent by 2010.
Baird says he's ready for election on plan's merits
"We think we struck the right balance," Baird told CBC News on Friday. "This is a strong, balanced, and fair plan."
Baird said he was ready to go to an election on the plan's merits, but added it wasn't up to the government to decide.
"If the Liberals or the NDP want to take it to the people, that will be their call, not mine," he said.
Some industrial leaders have grudgingly accepted the plan, while opposition parties and environmental groups are slamming it.
The plan sees Canada reaching its Kyoto Protocol emissions targets between 2020 and 2025, instead of 2012 as laid out in the international plan to curb climate change.
Industry isn't facing hard caps on greenhouse gas emissions, but is asked to meet "intensity-based" targets, based on units of production.
This means companies must reduce the amount of emissions used to produce their individual products, but they don't have to reduce emissions overall. If a company ramps up its production, its total emissions can rise.
'Time to move forward'
Baird acknowledged environmentalists' demands Friday.
"In Canada, environmentalists have demanded perfection, yet nothing has happened," Baird said.
"It's time to move forward; our plan does that."
Baird again took aim at Stéphane Dion and the previous Liberal government for the delay in reaching its Kyoto targets, noting the Liberals allowed greenhouse gases to go up by 27 per cent while they were in power.
"I can't turn the hands of the clock back," he said. "I can't take responsibility for 13 years of inaction … but our government can take responsibility for taking action now."
Technology the 'real answer': Baird
Baird also said significant environmental and economic benefits would emerge through developing technologies such as carbon capturing.
"I think technology is going to be the real answer," he said.
The Conservatives estimate the plan will cost the Canadian economy between $7 billion and $8 billion a year at most, but not many jobs will be lost.
"Some in industry say it goes too far," Baird acknowledged.
The government says there will be benefits to implementing the plan. By 2015, it expects to save $6.4 billion in health-care costs because fewer people will be suffering from pollution-related illnesses.
The plan touches on emissions from cars, trucks and household appliances, but primarily the plan takes aim at industry, which accounts for nearly 50 per cent of Canada's total emissions.
Canada's industrial sector will be responsible for 40 per cent — or 60 million tonnes — of Canada's total 150-million-tonne greenhouse gas reduction.
Companies that were set up before 2004 will be required to cut back their greenhouse gas emissions by 18 per cent by 2010. After that, they have to reduce amounts by two per cent a year.
With files from the Canadian Press
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Tories unveil new climate change targets
The Tories seem to be doing an end run around the revamped clean air act. As of yesterday they were still denying that the act was dead but the continual dribs and dabs of policy suggest that the revamped act is stillborn. Many of the amendments are simply unacceptable to the Tories.
Tories launch revamped climate change targets
Last Updated: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 | 10:28 AM ET
CBC News
Canada will cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 150 million tonnes, or 20 per cent, by 2020, Environment Minister John Baird said Wednesday, in a speech launching the Conservatives' revamped climate change program.
Baird's highly anticipated announcement outlining the government's greenhouse gas targets for industry was expected in Toronto on Thursday.
But the minister was forced to release the speech in advance after it was mistakenly faxed Wednesday to Liberal environment critic David McGuinty.
Baird said the Tories intend to halt the rise of greenhouse gases in three to five years by forcing 700 of the largest industrial polluters in Canada to reduce their emissions.
"We need to do a U-turn," he said. "We don't want to replace 10 years of bad environmental policy with 10 years of bad economic policy.”
The plan, dubbed Turning the Corner, calls for industries to make in-house reductions, participate in domestic emissions trading, purchase energy offsets and invest in a technology fund.
It also pledges national fixed emissions caps for industrial pollutants to cut air pollution in half by 2015.
"If the Liberal government had instituted this plan in 1998 when they signed Kyoto, Canada would have achieved its emissions target," Baird said. "Canada would be at Kyoto today."
Inefficient bulbs banned by 2012
Baird's speech came as Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn announced the government would ban the sale of inefficient light bulbs by 2012
Lunn said the plan could see Canadians saving up to 4,000 megawatts of power a year, or up to $4 billion in energy costs.
The plan to phase out most incandescent bulbs follows a similar proposal announced recently by Ontario.
"We must have strong national standards to support provinces and territories that are making their own standards," Lunn said.
Compact fluorescent bulbs use around 75 per cent less electricity than standard incandescent bulbs, which will be banned in Europe beginning in 2009 and in 2010 in Australia.
Previous clean air bill in limbo
Baird's announcement comes after the Tories' previous emission targets bill — the clean air act introduced last fall and heavily reworked by opposition parties in committee — remains in limbo.
On Monday, Baird said the federal government was still weighing its response to the amendments and declined to say whether he will bring the altered bill before Parliament for a vote.
Last week, Baird warned a Senate environment committee of dire economic consequences if Canada were to meet its Kyoto promises on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
A private member's bill, introduced by Liberal MP Pablo Rodriguez and passed by the Commons, calls for the federal government to honour Canada's commitment under the Kyoto treaty.
Baird said the Liberal bill was a "risky, reckless scheme" that would cost 275,000 Canadians their jobs by 2009
Tories launch revamped climate change targets
Last Updated: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 | 10:28 AM ET
CBC News
Canada will cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 150 million tonnes, or 20 per cent, by 2020, Environment Minister John Baird said Wednesday, in a speech launching the Conservatives' revamped climate change program.
Baird's highly anticipated announcement outlining the government's greenhouse gas targets for industry was expected in Toronto on Thursday.
But the minister was forced to release the speech in advance after it was mistakenly faxed Wednesday to Liberal environment critic David McGuinty.
Baird said the Tories intend to halt the rise of greenhouse gases in three to five years by forcing 700 of the largest industrial polluters in Canada to reduce their emissions.
"We need to do a U-turn," he said. "We don't want to replace 10 years of bad environmental policy with 10 years of bad economic policy.”
The plan, dubbed Turning the Corner, calls for industries to make in-house reductions, participate in domestic emissions trading, purchase energy offsets and invest in a technology fund.
It also pledges national fixed emissions caps for industrial pollutants to cut air pollution in half by 2015.
"If the Liberal government had instituted this plan in 1998 when they signed Kyoto, Canada would have achieved its emissions target," Baird said. "Canada would be at Kyoto today."
Inefficient bulbs banned by 2012
Baird's speech came as Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn announced the government would ban the sale of inefficient light bulbs by 2012
Lunn said the plan could see Canadians saving up to 4,000 megawatts of power a year, or up to $4 billion in energy costs.
The plan to phase out most incandescent bulbs follows a similar proposal announced recently by Ontario.
"We must have strong national standards to support provinces and territories that are making their own standards," Lunn said.
Compact fluorescent bulbs use around 75 per cent less electricity than standard incandescent bulbs, which will be banned in Europe beginning in 2009 and in 2010 in Australia.
Previous clean air bill in limbo
Baird's announcement comes after the Tories' previous emission targets bill — the clean air act introduced last fall and heavily reworked by opposition parties in committee — remains in limbo.
On Monday, Baird said the federal government was still weighing its response to the amendments and declined to say whether he will bring the altered bill before Parliament for a vote.
Last week, Baird warned a Senate environment committee of dire economic consequences if Canada were to meet its Kyoto promises on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
A private member's bill, introduced by Liberal MP Pablo Rodriguez and passed by the Commons, calls for the federal government to honour Canada's commitment under the Kyoto treaty.
Baird said the Liberal bill was a "risky, reckless scheme" that would cost 275,000 Canadians their jobs by 2009
Friday, April 6, 2007
Sask gets 44M for environmental projects
While the Harper govt. keeps announcing new environmental programs it refuses to pass the revised Clean Air Act--or whatever its new name is! Every little bit helps but only a little bit!
Sask. gets $44M from Ottawa for CO2-cutting projects
Last Updated: Thursday, April 5, 2007 | 5:32 PM CT
CBC News
Saskatchewan projects aimed at cutting pollution and putting less carbon dioxide in the air will be getting $44 million, the federal and provincial environment ministers announced Thursday.
The federal money is Saskatchewan's part of a $1.5-billion trust fund set up to help provinces and territories reduce greenhouse gas emissions, smog and pollution, federal Environment Minister John Baird said during a stop in Regina.
Some of the $44 million will be spent at the International Test Centre for Carbon Dioxide Capture at the University of Regina.
Researchers there are looking at ways to reduce emissions from burning coal in the province's power plants. One strategy is carbon sequestration, where CO2 is pumped back into the ground instead of being released into the air. Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas. Scientists say it is contributing to global warning.
There's also money for preliminary work on a near-zero carbon emission power plant somewhere in Saskatchewan.
SaskPower hasn't decided whether it will proceed with such a plant, which could cost $1.5 billion, but it expects to make a decision soon.
Saskatchewan environmentalist Ann Coxworth supports research to reduce carbon emissions, but says deadlines need to be set and the impact of Thursday's announcement remains to be seen.
"It's unclear yet whether and to what extent it will actually move us towards the targets that we must reach if we're going to prevent complete climate chaos," she said.
The money earmarked for Saskatchewan will also be spent on biofuels and solar energy projects.
The Calvert government says it will reveal more about its green strategy over the next few weeks.
Saskatchewan Environment Minister John Nilson said the federal money will help support the province's long-term goal of getting one-third of all its energy from renewable sources.
Sask. gets $44M from Ottawa for CO2-cutting projects
Last Updated: Thursday, April 5, 2007 | 5:32 PM CT
CBC News
Saskatchewan projects aimed at cutting pollution and putting less carbon dioxide in the air will be getting $44 million, the federal and provincial environment ministers announced Thursday.
The federal money is Saskatchewan's part of a $1.5-billion trust fund set up to help provinces and territories reduce greenhouse gas emissions, smog and pollution, federal Environment Minister John Baird said during a stop in Regina.
Some of the $44 million will be spent at the International Test Centre for Carbon Dioxide Capture at the University of Regina.
Researchers there are looking at ways to reduce emissions from burning coal in the province's power plants. One strategy is carbon sequestration, where CO2 is pumped back into the ground instead of being released into the air. Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas. Scientists say it is contributing to global warning.
There's also money for preliminary work on a near-zero carbon emission power plant somewhere in Saskatchewan.
SaskPower hasn't decided whether it will proceed with such a plant, which could cost $1.5 billion, but it expects to make a decision soon.
Saskatchewan environmentalist Ann Coxworth supports research to reduce carbon emissions, but says deadlines need to be set and the impact of Thursday's announcement remains to be seen.
"It's unclear yet whether and to what extent it will actually move us towards the targets that we must reach if we're going to prevent complete climate chaos," she said.
The money earmarked for Saskatchewan will also be spent on biofuels and solar energy projects.
The Calvert government says it will reveal more about its green strategy over the next few weeks.
Saskatchewan Environment Minister John Nilson said the federal money will help support the province's long-term goal of getting one-third of all its energy from renewable sources.
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