OTTAWA – According to Alex Atamanenko, Member of Parliament for BC Southern Interior, Bill C-311, (An Act to Ensure Canada Assumes its Responsibilities in Preventing Dangerous Climate Change) will establish long-term targets to reduce Canadian greenhouse gas emissions below the 1990 level by 80% by year 2050, and by 25% by 2020.
“It is important that Parliament pass Bill C-311 prior to Canada attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) scheduled in December 2009 in Copenhagen”, said Atamanenko. “This will show the world that Canada is taking the lead on this very important issue.
Bill C-311 which was reintroduced by NDP MP Bruce Hyer, is based on the, Case for Deep Reductions report by the Pembina Institute, the David Suzuki Foundation and the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy. It received its 2nd hour of debate at Second Reading on March 26th and is scheduled to be voted upon on April 1st.
The Climate Change Act, Bill C-377, was first introduced in October 2006 by Jack Layton. In June 2008, with the support of the Liberals and the Bloc, climate change activities and environmental leaders around the world celebrated the passage of the world’s first Climate Change Accountability Act. Regrettably, the conservative election call last fall effectively killed the bill before it received Royal Ascent.
“Canadians are already experiencing the harmful effects of climate change”, stated the BC MP. “This is far too important to Canada’s future to be a partisan issue and it is incumbent upon every Canadian to convince the Conservatives and especially the Liberals, who are allegedly withdrawing their support, to vote in favour of this Bill on April 1st,” concluded Atamanenko.
Tags: climate change, greenhouse gas