It looks more likely that the Conservatives are on a collision course with the Liberals and NDP over Kyoto/Global warming. The result: an election.
Exhibit A:
Today, John Baird released a Government of Canada study on the economic impact of bill C-288 (An Act to ensure Canada meets its global climate change obligations under the Kyoto Protocol) passed by a Liberal-NDP-Bloq coalition. This study is supported by leading, independent Canadian economists.
In a nutshell, the study says that it would be economic suicide if Canada attempted to meet the 2008 to 2012 Kyoto targets set out by the bill. Baird even details how many people will lose their job and how much more Canadians will be paying for utilities and gas:
- 275,000 Canadians would lose their job by 2009
- The cost of electricity bills would jump 50% after 2010
- The cost of filling up a car would jump 60%
- The cost of heating a home by natural gas would double
Exhibit B:
The Liberal-NDP dominated committee responsible for re-crafting the Conservative's 'Clean Air Act' has targeted 'Climate Change' (their way of saying Global Warming') in a big way. Have a look at a few parts of the new preamble:
[…]
Whereas the Government of Canada recognizes that air pollution and greenhouse gases are matters within the jurisdiction of both the Government of Canada and the governments of the provinces;
[…]
Whereas the Government of Canada recognizes that climate change constitutes one of the most serious threats to humanity and to Canada, and poses major risks not only to the environment and the economy, but above all to the health and safety of all people;
[…]
Whereas the Government of Canada signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change which entered into force in 1994, and Parliament ratified in 2002 by a majority vote in the House of Commons and the Senate the Kyoto Protocol which entered into force in 2005 and under which Canada must honour its obligation to reduce its average annual greenhouse gas emissions during the period from 2008 to 2012 to six percent below their level in 1990;" […bill C-288]
As I have said before, I believe people care about the bottom line before they care about Canada's infinitesimal contribution to man's CO2 emissions. Stripping the issue down to dollars and cents is a great strategy because the opposition is caught between a rock and a hard place. If the Grit-Dippers dig in and demand that the new and improved Clean Air Act is passed, the Conservatives may make it a confidence issue because of the economic peril. The Conservatives do not fear an election. On the other hand, the Liberals and NDP could tuck their tail between their legs and back off, allowing the Conservatives to implement their pollution/greenhouse gas plan. A Conservative win.
By the rhetoric I have heard from the Liberals and NDP after the report came out, it doesn't look like they are about to back off.
UPDATE: The CBC has weighed in with this fair and balanced 'report'. The highlight: Elizabeth May's reaction:
This is more economic fearmongering from a
Government that doesn't want to take its responsibilities.
That's rich! A global wanrming alarmist is lecturing about fearmongering.
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