B.C. LIBERALS SHOULD STAND UP FOR B.C. AND SEND CLEAR MESSAGE OF KYOTO SUPPORT
December 14th, 2011
VICTORIA – The Harper government decision to make Canada the first nation to pull out of the Kyoto protocol is disappointing and sends the wrong message to the rest of the world on fighting climate change, say British Columbia’s New Democrats.
“This decision makes Canada look more like an environmental renegade than a leader,” said New Democrat environment critic Rob Fleming. “The Liberal government of B.C. should stand up for British Columbia and send a clear message that we believe Canada should not pull out of the Kyoto protocol.”
But the B.C. Liberals are instead attempting to downplay Canada’s reversal on the Kyoto accord because B.C. has problems of its own when it comes to fighting climate change.
“The Liberals have already acknowledged they may not hit their own emission reduction targets,” said Fleming. “It would be hypocritical of the Liberals to point fingers at the federal government.”
On Monday, the Harper government announced Canada will be pulling out of the Kyoto protocol to address climate change. B.C. Liberal Environment Minister Terry Lake downplayed the significance by saying “Well, I understand the federal position,” and continued, “It really doesn't impact British Columbia.”
In September, Lake showed a drop in confidence for hitting British Columbia's emission reduction target of 33 per cent by 2020, saying “I don't want to say that we are going to hit those targets no matter what,” and continued “if we are not going to hit them, we are going to have to change the law.”
“In the meantime, the Harper government, B.C. Liberals and Alberta oil barons are trying to push forward a tar sands pipeline that will only increase emissions,” said Fleming.
Rob Fleming and Paul Dewar NDP Federal Leadership Candidate 2012
“This decision makes Canada look more like an environmental renegade than a leader,” said New Democrat environment critic Rob Fleming. “The Liberal government of B.C. should stand up for British Columbia and send a clear message that we believe Canada should not pull out of the Kyoto protocol.”
But the B.C. Liberals are instead attempting to downplay Canada’s reversal on the Kyoto accord because B.C. has problems of its own when it comes to fighting climate change.
“The Liberals have already acknowledged they may not hit their own emission reduction targets,” said Fleming. “It would be hypocritical of the Liberals to point fingers at the federal government.”
On Monday, the Harper government announced Canada will be pulling out of the Kyoto protocol to address climate change. B.C. Liberal Environment Minister Terry Lake downplayed the significance by saying “Well, I understand the federal position,” and continued, “It really doesn't impact British Columbia.”
In September, Lake showed a drop in confidence for hitting British Columbia's emission reduction target of 33 per cent by 2020, saying “I don't want to say that we are going to hit those targets no matter what,” and continued “if we are not going to hit them, we are going to have to change the law.”
Rob Fleming and Paul Dewar NDP Federal Leadership Candidate 2012
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