Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Layton to Harper: Time to Act - Tuesday September 26, 2006
NDP challenges Conservatives to deliver on the environment.
OTTAWA – NDP Leader Jack Layton today called on Stephen Harper to deliver on climate change, outlining the minimum requirements for a Conservative plan that is serious about the environment. Layton appeared with NDP Environment critic Nathan Cullen, Northern Development and Energy critic Dennis Bevington, and the co-chair of the NDP’s environment caucus, Denise Savoie.
“For 13 years the Liberals promised results on climate change but didn’t act. As a result pollution rose. Canadians are frustrated and impatient, they want to see laws with teeth and targeted investments to get Canada on the right track,” said Layton.
Layton challenged Harper to deliver on key targets and environmental initiatives:
- Get tough on smog and greenhouse gas producing pollutants. Set a target to reduce greenhouse gas pollution by 80% by 2050
- End subsidies to the oil and gas industry
- Consider a moratorium on oil sands development until environmental concerns about the production of massive amounts of carbon emissions are addressed
- Support for an East-West power grid, as part of a Canada wide energy strategy
- Ban the worst toxic chemicals
- Encourage green investment, including urban transit and retrofits for all types of buildings, including low-income housing
These are the necessary markers for any serious green plan.
New Democrats unveiled a 5-point Green Agenda for Canada last June, which outlined the steps to be taken in key areas such as energy conservation, pollution reduction, and investment in green technologies. The NDP plan would create jobs, reduce green house gas emissions and save Canadians thousands of dollars a year in energy costs.
# posted by Francis Chartrand @ 10:50 AM 
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