ROSS REBAGLIATI, Okanagan-Coquihalla Liberal MP Candidate

Far from demonstrating “enlightened sovereignty,” the government has moved even further away from the 20 percent greenhouse gas reduction target announced in April 2007.

Setting a new goal of a 17-percent reduction below 2005 levels by 2020 follows the pattern established by our climate-change-denying Prime Minister.  Here’s a look back at the Harper environmental legacy:

January 2006. Canada’s Conservative government is elected.  Stephen Harper becomes Prime Minister.  The Harper government cuts or freezes up to $6 billion in environmental programming upon coming into office.

April 2007. Environment Minister John Baird tables “Turning the Corner,” the Harper government’s second environmental plan in six months, calling for emission reductions of 20 percent below 2006 levels by 2020, and between 50-65 percent by 2050. Every independent analyses of the plan finds that it lacks the capacity to meet its own targets.

May 2009. New Conservative Environment Minister Jim Prentice announces the Harper government’s third climate change plan in three years by indicating that climate change regulations will not be developed until 2010 and may not take effect until 2016.

January 30, 2010. The government files its official Copenhagen Accord papers that show Canada’s new goal is 17 percent, down from the previous 20 percent. The plan shows the government still has no plan on how to reach that new target and at least one environmental group has predicted it will result in an increase in emissions.
 

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