Greens Challenge the Harper Government to Publish Any Credible Evidence Supporting their Claims

Greens challenge the Harper government to publish any credible evidence in support of their claims. “As all knowledgeable experts have stated, Canada has no chance of meeting any target based on the non-programme now in place. It is simply not credible for the minister to attack the one thorough and valid assessment sponsored by TD Bank,” said Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada, “Rhetoric is no substitute for analysis."

The report, financed by the Toronto Dominion Bank, modelled the impacts of meeting emissions reductions in line with the government's stated target as well as the impacts of a more ambitious target based on the demands of climate science. The results suggest that both targets could be met while the economy continued to grow and could even yield a slight increase in jobs. Even in the fossil fuel-resource based economies of Saskatchewan and Alberta, the economy would continue to grow, albeit at a slower rate of growth. Minister Prentice called the report “irresponsible” and maintained that the government would put a much lower price on emissions.

“It's been apparent for a while that Canada's current plans for emissions reductions won't meet even the grossly inadequate targets Prime Minister Harper has set. Now Minister Prentice is basically admitting that he's not willing to do what it takes to meet his own weak targets,” said Elizabeth May.

Mugnatto-Hamu criticized suggestions that the regional costs would be too high and that the recommendations are too divisive for Canadians. “While Alberta's economy would not grow as quickly if we chose to address climate change appropriately, it would still be the fastest growing economy in Canada. What's more, the growth Alberta envisions in the tar sands is built on a base of perverse subsidies that Canadians have been funneling to Alberta for years. It's time for Alberta to do its share,” she said.

Mugnatto-Hamu also said the costs of the 'business as usual' case in the report were based on the current economic situation, which we can't count on. “First of all, the idea that we can increase emissions to 47% above 1990 levels in the next decade depends on the continued economical availability of fossil fuels. That's unlikely as resource constraints hit against powerful new markets like regional airlines and cheap automobiles in developing countries. Secondly, it is extremely unlikely that Canada can just tell the rest of the world to drop dead and make absolutely no effort to reduce emissions without attracting punitive sanctions from the rest of the world. We are no longer in a situation where the 'business as usual' case is a real choice. It may well prove to be the most expensive choice of all.” 

“The real question here is not whether the economy will grow a little more slowly or a little more quickly in some regions. The question is whether we have the courage to do what's necessary to offer our children and grandchildren an opportunity to live in a world with most of the advantages we enjoy,” said Elizabeth May.

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Debra Eindiguer
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