Look at that opportunity.
First of all, before we get in, I think we'll talk about the air quality thing last. There are a few amendments, small but important, that we're looking to change.
First of all, on the notion that has been put forward and that Mr. McGuinty spoke to earlier, the NDP members are supporting this because we feel quite honoured for having had it lifted from many of our plans that have been iterated over the last three or four years. As far back as February 2005, we put a plan forward that talked about many of the elements here in this L-21.1 package. We're encouraged to see many of those elements here today.
There are, as I said, a few important things that we want to change. The notion of having national standards and national goals shouldn't put too much fear into the government, as this is something they have claimed they wanted to do from the onset when dealing with this issue—perhaps not the onset, but soon after realizing that there's a need for this to happen. I'm not sure, perhaps that happened between ministers, or perhaps at some point the government had an awakening and a realization that this is important.
Mr. Jean has raised some concerns that he might want to modify some elements in a friendly amendment fashion, but I'm not sure that's the route we're taking today. I would suggest that the opportunity for courage exists here.
The amendment...let me start with a friendly one first, Mr. Chair. It might not be viewed as all that friendly, but we'll see how she goes.
In subparagraph 103.02(1)(b)(i)—I never thought I would actually speak in these terms, but a couple of years in this place will do that to you--the specific matter is the target being set for 2020. In this section as it sits rights now, the Liberals have shown us a target of 20% by 2020. We heard from a number of witnesses that...the problems we've seen with the Conservative plans or suggestions to this point of 45% to 60% reductions by 2050, or those notions contained in Bill C-30, are that they assume a business as usual case for too long, and then some imagined precipitous drop off a cliff in terms of greenhouse gas reduction. That's just not the way this has worked in any country to this point. There is a gradual decline or decrease. We want to put the country on the trajectory that we want to get to, which we believe is in the 80% category by 2050.
As a friendly amendment, let me start with this one first. We'll keep these separate. I have one that will follow.
Under that section it's very simple to change the 20% to 25% for 2020. We have elements of this Liberal motion contained both before and afterwards. This is a compilation. It seems it's easier for the committee to grasp in the compiled form, so that's fine, but this element and a couple of other important ones are critical for us.