We wanted to suggest an alternate way of reaching the targets for those who are not comfortable with funding projects abroad, the purchase of credits provided for by the Kyoto Protocol. The idea is to be able to pay $30 a tonne into a fund that would be independent of government. The money would be reinvested in projects that would result in reduced emissions locally, within the province where the payments are made. If it were impossible to find enough reduction opportunities in the province in question, there would be a subsidy to enable polluters to remain within the $30-a-tonne maximum. In this way, we could achieve some geographical balance, for those who are concerned about this issue, while reassuring the industry about the price per tonne.
On February 20th, 2007. See this statement in context.