Mr. Speaker, this December in Kyoto, Japan, Canada will be signing an international legally binding treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The signing of this agreement is only two months away, yet the government refuses to divulge the standards to which Canada will agree.
President Clinton and Vice-President Gore have been front and centre consulting Americans on global warming issues. European leaders are actively debating global warming strategies. However, in Canada we have heard nothing from the Prime Minister yet alone the environment minister, despite the fact that the economic and environmental implications regarding this treaty are substantial.
The provinces, whose responsibility it is to administer emission reductions, are not on side. Ordinary Canadians are still waiting to be consulted.
Before the government agrees to any reductions in greenhouse gas levels, ordinary Canadians and the provinces must be in agreement. This agreement must come before the treaty is signed, not after.