Significant pieces of that daylight are:
- While Harper repeatedly says he'll be the last to move on global warming (is it America or China he's hiding behind today?), and when he does do something it will fall far short of what scientists are telling us is needed, Ignatieff says that Canada will move ahead regardless, as a leader should, and base reductions on scientific facts.
- While Harper lets the ecoEnergy program run out of money, incredibly hobbling Canada in the ongoing green industrial revolution now underway, Ignatieff is pledging the most significant investment in renewables the country has ever seen.
- While Harper refuses to rule out giving special treatment to the tar sands so that it can continue to increase its pollution at a time when we need to dramatically reduce it, Ignatieff is pledging a cap and trade system for Canada that covers all industries ("no exceptions") and is equitable across the country.
Harper is clearly starting to feel the heat on global warming, despite once questioning the science, by announcing today he'll go to Copenhagen after all. When he gets there though, he'll show up with no plan, weak targets, and a track record that clearly says to the world "I don't care."
We welcome even more daylight from the Liberals in the weeks and months to come. We also welcome more collaboration with the other opposition parties who, to their credit, have been saying strong things on climate change for a long time already. And, ultimately, we welcome an about-face by Harper himself so that either he or another Prime Minister is able to credibly tell the world at some point that "Canada does care."
Matt Price
Program Manager
Environmental Defence
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