Elizabeth May Leaves for Poznan

OTTAWA- Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada, leaves for Poland today to join the negotiating process under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. Canada has all ready showed itself to be an obstacle to progress with special pleadings for exemptions for the Athabasca tar sands.

Yesterday Canada was awarded four "Fossil of the Day" awards by the international community at the start of the UN negotiations on climate change this week.

“I am so embarrassed that our government is putting the interests of big oil and the nuclear industry above the health of the planet,” said Ms. May.  “I can only hope that the rest of the countries here can convince our delegates not to impede their progress.”

Ms. May will be in Poland until December 14th for a meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), continuing global negotiations around the Kyoto Protocol. She hopes to work constructively with the Opposition Party Critics. Environment Minister Jim Prentice arrives later next week.

“No matter how much the Harper government buries its head in the sand and hides from the truth, the climate crisis is real and the rest of the world is dealing with it.  We need to get on board and take advantage of some of the opportunities we have now for investing in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure,” said Ms. May.  “Yes, we are a Northern climate country but we are also an imaginative and intelligent country. Unfortunately the government’s negotiators are portraying us as backwards and obstructionist.”

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Contact :
Michael Bernard
Communications Officer
Green Party of Canada
Office : 613 562 4916 ext. 244
Cell : 613 614 4916
Fax : 613 482 4632