Last Updated: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 | 9:03 AM ET
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/02/14/kyoto-vote.html
MPs will vote on Wednesday on a private member's bill that the Liberals say will force the government to meet international Kyoto targets ― a goal that the Conservatives say is impossible to meet.
The NDP and Bloc Québécois have indicated they'll support the bill, which will likely be passed by the House of Commons and the Liberal-dominated Senate.
Liberal backbencher Pablo Rodriguez, who introduced the bill 10 months ago, said if it becomes law, the government must outline within 60 days how it will meet the Kyoto Protocol targets.
Just hours before the vote, Speaker Peter Milliken turned down a Conservative appeal to have the bill declared invalid. The Tories argued the bill would force the government to spend money against its will, but Milliken said the bill contained no specific spending measures.
Canada remains a Kyoto signatory, but under the Conservatives, it rejects the main idea of the agreement, a schedule for substantial cuts in heat-trapping greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.
'He's not the new emperor of Canada.'― Liberal MP Pablo Rodriguez on the prime minister
The former Liberal government ratified the agreement in 2002, but Prime Minister Stephen Harper believes the targets, if met by 2012, would devastate the economy.
Rodriguez says that if passed, his bill would compel the government to act.
"They are bound to it. It's the law of the land," Rodriguez said. "The prime minister cannot cherry pick laws. He's not the new emperor of Canada.
"The government has to respect it and implement it. If not, we go to the courts," he said.
Rodriguez insisted the bill isn't part of a political game and that it would apply to the Liberals if they win the next election.
'It's really a toothless tiger:' Baird
However, Environment Minister John Baird says there are no consequences or penalties if the conditions of the bill aren't followed.
"It's really a toothless tiger. All it does is talk about more plans and more studies … we need real action," he said.
David Docherty, a professor at Wilfrid Laurier University, said it will be up to the opposition to enforce the bill ― if it becomes law ― and the government doesn't meet the deadline for action.
"Well, if they don't come up with a plan in 60 days, I guess the question is then, how far is the opposition willing to go to make them do that?" Docherty said.
Docherty said the opposition could hold a non-confidence vote if the Conservatives ignore the legislation, but he isn't convinced all three parties are eager to trigger a spring election.
Earlier this month, the House of Commons passed a non-binding motion calling on the government to honour the Kyoto commitments. Harper didn't attend the vote.
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/02/14/kyoto-vote.html
MPs will vote on Wednesday on a private member's bill that the Liberals say will force the government to meet international Kyoto targets ― a goal that the Conservatives say is impossible to meet.
The NDP and Bloc Québécois have indicated they'll support the bill, which will likely be passed by the House of Commons and the Liberal-dominated Senate.
Liberal backbencher Pablo Rodriguez, who introduced the bill 10 months ago, said if it becomes law, the government must outline within 60 days how it will meet the Kyoto Protocol targets.
Just hours before the vote, Speaker Peter Milliken turned down a Conservative appeal to have the bill declared invalid. The Tories argued the bill would force the government to spend money against its will, but Milliken said the bill contained no specific spending measures.
Canada remains a Kyoto signatory, but under the Conservatives, it rejects the main idea of the agreement, a schedule for substantial cuts in heat-trapping greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.
'He's not the new emperor of Canada.'― Liberal MP Pablo Rodriguez on the prime minister
The former Liberal government ratified the agreement in 2002, but Prime Minister Stephen Harper believes the targets, if met by 2012, would devastate the economy.
Rodriguez says that if passed, his bill would compel the government to act.
"They are bound to it. It's the law of the land," Rodriguez said. "The prime minister cannot cherry pick laws. He's not the new emperor of Canada.
"The government has to respect it and implement it. If not, we go to the courts," he said.
Rodriguez insisted the bill isn't part of a political game and that it would apply to the Liberals if they win the next election.
'It's really a toothless tiger:' Baird
However, Environment Minister John Baird says there are no consequences or penalties if the conditions of the bill aren't followed.
"It's really a toothless tiger. All it does is talk about more plans and more studies … we need real action," he said.
David Docherty, a professor at Wilfrid Laurier University, said it will be up to the opposition to enforce the bill ― if it becomes law ― and the government doesn't meet the deadline for action.
"Well, if they don't come up with a plan in 60 days, I guess the question is then, how far is the opposition willing to go to make them do that?" Docherty said.
Docherty said the opposition could hold a non-confidence vote if the Conservatives ignore the legislation, but he isn't convinced all three parties are eager to trigger a spring election.
Earlier this month, the House of Commons passed a non-binding motion calling on the government to honour the Kyoto commitments. Harper didn't attend the vote.
