Liberals
Call on Harper to Respect Will of Parliament, Implement Bill to Respect
Kyoto Targets
Ottawa
– The Liberal Opposition called on Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his
government to respect the will of Parliament, which today passed a Liberal
bill to ensure Canada meets its Kyoto obligations.
“Parliament
has spoken. In its passage of
this important piece of legislation, its will has been made crystal clear
and it is the Prime Minister’s obligation to respect that will,” said
Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion.
“The Prime Minister must work to meet Canada’s responsibilities
under the Kyoto Protocol.”
The
Liberal bill, which calls for Canada to meet its global climate change
obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, passed in the House of Commons by a
vote of 161 to 113. Liberal,
Bloc and NDP members unanimously supported the bill.
Only the Conservatives opposed it.
“Prime
Minister Harper has a long history of denying the dangers of climate
change, but he can’t ignore the passage of this bill,” said Liberal MP
Pablo Rodriguez, who introduced the legislation as a private member’s
bill.
Mr.
Dion noted that our commitment to Kyoto is an incentive to do the right
thing now for our environment, our economy, and with respect to our role
in the world.
“Reducing
Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions will enhance – not cripple – our
economy now and for the future,” said Mr. Dion.
“By working hard to meet our international targets, Canada’s
economy will become more energy efficient, more competitive, and ready for
the new energy- and carbon-constrained global economic reality of the 21st
century.”
Mr.
Dion pointed out that the issue of climate change is not exclusive to
Canada – it is a global crisis that requires a global solution.
And that is exactly what the Kyoto Protocol represents.
-30-
