Written by NNL Staff
Wednesday, 21 October 2009 19:00
OTTAWA – Liberal and Conservative MPs today joined forces to stall the only legislation addressing climate change before the House of Commons. Bill C-311, the Climate Change Accountability Act, is MP Bruce Hyer’s private member’s bill that commits Canada to firm science-based greenhouse gas pollution targets. More than 40 Canadian conservation & environmental organizations including Nature Canada, the Jane Goodall Institute, the World Wildlife Fund, and the Council of Canadians sent an open letter yesterday to all MPs urging against delay.
It is feared that without passage of C-311 before the Copenhagen global climate treaty negotiations this December, the Conservative government would be free to arrive on the world stage without a plan, and hold back a climate agreement from being reached. “Adopting this bill will not only reflect the sentiments of the majority of Canadians who are deeply concerned about climate change, it would also signal the commitment of Canada to do its part,” said Bruce Hyer, the New Democrat Deputy Environment Critic. “Today’s vote was a chance for Liberals to join the rest of the opposition to direct the government on Canada’s stance for Copenhagen. Instead, they have chosen to side with Conservatives and delay action.”
The vote comes on the heels of testimony by leading climate scientists at the Environment Committee, who voiced strong support for the Bill’s science-based greenhouse gas pollution targets and urged the passage of the Bill in advance of Copenhagen.
In response to a question on whether adopting bill C-311 would salvage Canada’s international reputation at the climate negotiation table, Nobel Prize winner and former IPCC Working Group Chair John Stone, replied, “In a word, absolutely. It would do enormous good and to Canada's credibility. More than that, it could help immeasurably in the international process and getting a satisfactory outcome of the negotiations in Copenhagen.”
“This is extremely regrettable,” said Linda Duncan, New Democrat Environment Critic and Environment Committee member. “The clear effect is to prevent a vote on Bill 311 until after Copenhagen.”
Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 October 2009 19:00
Subscribe to this comment's feed
