Nationwide, the Conservative plan calls for a 45 per cent cut in emissions of volatile organics and a 40 per cent cut in emissions of nitrous oxides from 2006 levels by 2015.
The government says its plan provides nationally consistent regulations and a level playing field across Canada.
Unless you are a big oil company, developing the tar sands:
The federal government's new clean air plan will exempt Alberta's oil sands - alone among all sectors of heavy industry in Canada - from a requirement to cut emissions of two smog-causing pollutants.
And that has environmentalists issuing a pollution warning. An Environment Canada document provided to non-government groups last week projects a 60 per cent rise in emissions of volatile organic compounds from the oil sands by 2015, and a five per cent increase in nitrous oxides emissions over the same period.
Thanks to knb for providing the link in another thread.
Simply amazing. You expect everyone to basically cut emissions in half, while concurrently allowing the tar sands to puke out a noxious soup. When you factor in the reckless rise in tar sands emissions, the rest of Canada actually has to cut even further to meet the "nationally consistent regulations". Harper, the guy who uses his asthma as proof of his firm commitment to reduce smog, gives the worst polluter carte blanche, in his own backyard.
This revelation puts into context this article:
The oil and gas lobby had the "receptive ear" of the government while it developed its climate change policy, and the government's newly-released regulations on air emissions have the "industry's fingerprints all over it," the environmental lobby says.
Aaron Freeman, policy director for Environmental Defence, an environmental pressure group, said that although the environmental lobby had informal meetings with the government, there was no formal consultation process, and he believes industry groups had "extensive influence" on the policy process.
"I don't know how much access and influence industry had over this, but I can say that the NGOs had very little, and given how much this announcement was in line with industry's desires, my guess is that they had extensive influence," Mr. Freeman said last week.
"I think it's pretty clear that industry had a very receptive ear in the government on this," he added. "I think that they've set the targets in such a way that industry only has to reduce emissions, on the climate side, at a level that is profitable or no net cost to them."
It's time to ask, just what in the hell is going on here? Actually, we already know.
10 comments:
It's suicide though. I honestly don't get it.
Is Baird honestly going to stand there and rationalise this? How?
Oh wait, he'll bring out his doomsday scenario and say the Canadian economy is dependant on the Oil Sands and to make them accountable will kill our "strong" economy.
This is the most blatant announcement of stupidity to date. This gov't is in serious meltdown.
Aside from being angry, I'm completely perplexed.
To be perfectly honest all of this stupidity and ineptness; Afganistan, Flaherty, Foreign Affairs now this, makes me a bit uncomfortable as a Canadian. Partisanship aside, I'm uneasy with this bunch running the country. I always have been I suppose, but not to this extent.
"This is the most blatant announcement of stupidity to date."
And, that is saying something, given the history.
Somebody called Cheney and asked how to go about it.
Cheney told them but they blew the "secret" part.
Is it too soon for "Worst. Government. Ever."?
I don't think so.
If they really believe man contributes to global warming, I doubt they would do this.
The funny thing is these pollutants are the ones that cause smog, not global warming. So the only folks they are hurting are the ones that will have to breath this toxic soup.
It is interesting, I just read this story on the Globe and Mail site and I made the mistake of looking at the comments. Man, there are alot of stupid people out there. I cannot believe someone would actually threaten to separate because they do not like us easterners interfering with their right to increase smog.
I know for a fact that Albertans are not stupid so where are these people coming from?
Gayle, the only thing I thought this gov't believed in was a majority. How they plan to achieve that on this nonsense is beyond me.
Something is going on here, there must be some contrived case that they think they can make, with someone's backing no doubt.
BTW, can someone explain to me why the gov't keeps saying that Dion's plan would increase gas prices and that he thinks that's a good thing? I haven't read into the minutia and I'm sick of seeing Lunn jump up like a rabbit screaming about it.
Ottlib: The funny thing is these pollutants are the ones that cause smog
That's why I said suicide. Their supposed big claim to fame is going after smog and now they blow that? Obviously they will be smacked down.
I really don't get it.
It is a head scratcher that is certain.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out over the next couple of days.
Is this really what they plan on doing or is this some sort of red herring?
"BTW, can someone explain to me why the gov't keeps saying that Dion's plan would increase gas prices and that he thinks that's a good thing? I haven't read into the minutia and I'm sick of seeing Lunn jump up like a rabbit screaming about it."
Knb, I just watched Lunn on the QP repeat. I don't want to keep beating this to death, but why does the opposition let Lunn get away with constant referrals to "independent economists" have concluded? The opposition should be armed with the same economists complete rejection of the Green Plan. Why are they not stuffing this in Lunn's face?? I don't get it, and frankly Liberal and NDP staffers are dropping the ball here.
The guys who said gas would go up also said your entire plan is a joke. Sit the &^%% down would you.
BTW, I'm going to beat to death some more with another post :)
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