That is a good question. We have always been clear that we would prefer an implementation date, a base year, that goes back as far as possible because we took action before everyone else. The matter of early actions is key because if the government's policies punish those who took action before the regulations came into force, that sends everyone the message that they should not do anything, that they should just wait for the regulations.
That being said, we could live with 2000. We prefer 1990. It depends on whether inside the regulatory regime there is recognition for early action.
People ask why this is so important. There are two reasons. One is that there's a big fairness issue. If I've caulked all my windows, closed the doors, and done everything that's easy as an early actor, and someone asks me to improve another 20%, I have to buy a new furnace or re-insulate my house. If I've done nothing, I can do all the cheap things. So if you've already acted, and then the regulation comes in without any recognition of that, it costs you more. You are actually financially penalized for your virtue. We don't want that.
Second, there's a public policy reason. I assume, as Canadians, that we want to see as much action done without being forced or paid by government. If all these voluntary actions then turn out to be penalties, what it does is send a signal to people who are behaving responsibly that the result will be disfavour.