June 27, 2007 - (
en francais)
VANCOUVER - Canada's provinces must impose mandatory caps on industrial emissions in the absence of effective action by the federal government, according to environmental organizations across the country.
Provincial governments have already shown they aren't waiting for Ottawa's lead on tackling global warming. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty's announcement last week that Ontario will cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 15 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 brings the number of premiers promising substantial emission cuts to six, representing 84 per cent of Canada's population.
"Momentum is building among provinces to develop climate change plans of their own," said Ian Bruce, climate change specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation. "However, if they are to live up to their promises, they will have to institute a cap and trade program that imposes mandatory caps on industrial emissions - especially since the federal government's planned regulations will have little effect due to soft 'intensity-based' targets and other loopholes."
Agreement at a meeting this week in Prince Edward Island between Eastern Canadian premiers and New England governors to look at such regulations, coupled with reduction promises made by provinces such as Ontario, are causes for optimism, but the talk must be followed up with action, Mr. Bruce said. All of the premiers and territorial leaders will meet in Moncton, N.B., on August 8, and measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions are expected to dominate the agenda.
In the past few months, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia have joined Quebec and Manitoba in establishing emission targets to get their emissions below 1990 levels within five to 12 years, something the federal government says is impossible to achieve nationally.
"Governors in the U.S. Northeast and West Coast are instituting their own cap and trade programs to regulate industrial emissions in the absence of meaningful action by their federal government. Premiers should do the same on this side of the border," said David Coon, policy director with the Conservation Council of New Brunswick. "Canadians want action on global warming. If the federal government won't act, then it's up to premiers to deliver what its citizens want." A recent analysis published by the C.D. Howe Institute has concluded that the federal regulations are unlikely to reduce Canada's overall greenhouse gas emissions over the next four to five decades.
Ontario has promised to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 15 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, B.C., New Brunswick and Nova Scotia have all committed to cuts 10 per cent below 1990, and Manitoba and Quebec have committed to achieving close to the Kyoto target of a six per cent cut below 1990 by 2012. B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty have publicly supported establishing a cap and trade program among interested provinces.
"Quebec and other Canadian provinces could be the Northern California in the fight against climate change," argued Hugo Seguin, climate change coordinator at Equiterre. " However, to do so, they will have to demonstrate leadership, act faster, and do more to reduce their emissions."
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For further information, please contact:
Ian Bruce, Climate Change Specialist
David Suzuki Foundation
604-732-4228
604-306-5095 cell
ibruce@davidsuzuki.org
Dale Marshall, Climate Change Policy Analyst
David Suzuki Foundation (Ottawa)
613-302-9913 cell
David Coon, Policy Director
Conservation Council of New Brunswick
506-458-8747
506-461-1023 cell
dcoon@conservationcouncil.ca
Amelie Ferland, Communications
Equiterre
514-973-2000
Justin Smallbridge, Communications
David Suzuki Foundation
604-732-4228 x.237