Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07OTTAWA214
2007-02-06 14:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:
HOUSE PASSES NON-BINDING KYOTO RESOLUTION
how-toVZCZCXRO9465 RR RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHQU RUEHVC DE RUEHOT #0214 0371447 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 061447Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4931 INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC RUEAEPA/EPA WASHDC RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS OTTAWA 000214
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA, OES, AND EB
DOE FOR POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL
EPA FOR OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR AND INTERNATIONAL
AFFAIRS
WHITE HOUSE FOR CEQ
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ENRG PGOV CA
SUBJECT: HOUSE PASSES NON-BINDING KYOTO RESOLUTION
UNCLAS OTTAWA 000214
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA, OES, AND EB
DOE FOR POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL
EPA FOR OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR AND INTERNATIONAL
AFFAIRS
WHITE HOUSE FOR CEQ
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ENRG PGOV CA
SUBJECT: HOUSE PASSES NON-BINDING KYOTO RESOLUTION
1. (U) The House of Commons voted along party lines on Monday
to adopt a non-binding resolution calling on the government
to "reconfirm Canada's commitment to honor the principles and
targets of the Kyoto Protocol in their entirety." Liberal
(and Opposition) leader Stephane Dion introduced the measure
last week. The motion also called on the government to
establish a credible plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
through a carbon trading system that would penalize large
polluters and reward those who cut emissions.
2. (U) Prime Minister Harper, seemingly unfazed, skipped the
actual vote and reaffirmed his intention to continue
developing an environment/climate change program based on the
Clean Air Act introduced in the House last October. During
the afternoon's Question Period, he derided the Liberals,
noting they had made no progress in reducing emissions from
1997 through 2005 and had already announced they would be
unable to do so between 2008 and 2012. (If Canada is to meet
its Kyoto commitments, Dion has claimed, the Liberals would
have to take power this year. Assuming power in 2008 would
leave them insufficient time to meet the targets by 2012, he
said.)
3. (SBU) The actual non-binding resolution carries no weight,
but the unanimity of the opposition parties may add a new
twist to the debate. At the very least it reflects a
continuation of the Liberal strategy of trying to paint the
Tories into a corner on the environment. And it is clear
that the New Democratic Party is still probing to find its
greatest leverage in the environmental arena. While they
(the NDP) voted with the Liberals on the Kyoto resolution,
NDP environmental critic Nathan Cullen harshly criticized the
Liberals, complaining they would be working on amending the
Clean Air Act rather than proposing non-binding resolutions
if they were truly serious about climate change.
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa
WILKINS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA, OES, AND EB
DOE FOR POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL
EPA FOR OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR AND INTERNATIONAL
AFFAIRS
WHITE HOUSE FOR CEQ
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ENRG PGOV CA
SUBJECT: HOUSE PASSES NON-BINDING KYOTO RESOLUTION
1. (U) The House of Commons voted along party lines on Monday
to adopt a non-binding resolution calling on the government
to "reconfirm Canada's commitment to honor the principles and
targets of the Kyoto Protocol in their entirety." Liberal
(and Opposition) leader Stephane Dion introduced the measure
last week. The motion also called on the government to
establish a credible plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
through a carbon trading system that would penalize large
polluters and reward those who cut emissions.
2. (U) Prime Minister Harper, seemingly unfazed, skipped the
actual vote and reaffirmed his intention to continue
developing an environment/climate change program based on the
Clean Air Act introduced in the House last October. During
the afternoon's Question Period, he derided the Liberals,
noting they had made no progress in reducing emissions from
1997 through 2005 and had already announced they would be
unable to do so between 2008 and 2012. (If Canada is to meet
its Kyoto commitments, Dion has claimed, the Liberals would
have to take power this year. Assuming power in 2008 would
leave them insufficient time to meet the targets by 2012, he
said.)
3. (SBU) The actual non-binding resolution carries no weight,
but the unanimity of the opposition parties may add a new
twist to the debate. At the very least it reflects a
continuation of the Liberal strategy of trying to paint the
Tories into a corner on the environment. And it is clear
that the New Democratic Party is still probing to find its
greatest leverage in the environmental arena. While they
(the NDP) voted with the Liberals on the Kyoto resolution,
NDP environmental critic Nathan Cullen harshly criticized the
Liberals, complaining they would be working on amending the
Clean Air Act rather than proposing non-binding resolutions
if they were truly serious about climate change.
Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa
WILKINS