The Pembina Institute expressed disappointment today at Environment Minister John Baird's attempt to dismiss the Institute's analysis of the weaknesses in the government's recent "Turning the Corner" announcement on greenhouse gas pollution.
When asked to respond to Pembina's concerns at a Parliamentary committee on May 29, Minister Baird stated that the Institute "helped write the Liberal plan." Pembina rejects any suggestion that it is motivated by partisan considerations and that its conclusions are therefore not objective.
"It is extremely disappointing to see Minister Baird try to dismiss our objective analysis with cheap insinuations," said Marlo Raynolds, Executive Director of the Pembina Institute. "The Minister was given many opportunities to respond to our substantive concerns. His failure to do so only reinforces the credibility of those concerns."
The Pembina Institute affirms that it is a strictly non-partisan organization. The organization conducts extensive research and analysis to identify the policies that will best protect the environment. Pembina makes its conclusions available on request to any political party or government.
Pembina was consulted on the Liberal party's plan for industry regulations, Balancing Our Carbon Budget, and provided substantive input. "We were pleased to see some of our key suggestions reflected in that plan. Had we been invited to engage with the government in a similar way before its recent announcement, we would certainly have done so," added Dr. Raynolds.
Released on May 28, Pembina's analysis concludes that the government's proposed regulations have little chance of meeting its target of stopping the growth in Canada's greenhouse gas pollution by 2010-12. The analysis also highlights numerous loopholes and gaps that undermine the credibility of the government's target for 2020, which is to limit Canada's emissions to about 2% above the 1990 level.
Pembina has participated actively in federal government consultations on emissions from heavy industry for a decade. The Institute is on the public record as consistently having held the previous government to the same high standards that it is applying to the present one.
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Contact: Marlo Raynolds
Executive Director
Cell: 403-607-9427
Download Analysis of the Government of Canada's April 2007 Greenhouse Gas Policy Announcement.