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For release: October 17, 2007

Government Abandons Kyoto:
Canada Losing its Place in the World

(Ottawa) The Government of Canada is refusing to take meaningful action on the number one issue in the minds of Canadians: climate change. Yesterday’s Speech from the Throne affirmed the government’s intention to abandon the Kyoto Protocol and continue on a course that will leave Canada increasingly isolated from the international community.

“The government is abandoning the Kyoto Protocol and refusing to do its fair share to fight climate change,” said Graham Saul of Climate Action Network Canada - Réseau action climat Canada. “The climate change sections of the speech have more in common with the policies of the Bush Administration than the will of the Canadian people.”

“This is nothing more than a fashion show,” said Steven Guilbeault, of Équiterre. “Last year, the Harper government said that their priority was climate change and clean air. Not only did they do nothing about it, they abandoned their own Bill (C-30), and are now saying the focus should be on water. It’s insulting.”

“The Harper government has taken their climate change doublespeak to a new level,” said Greenpeace’s Joslyn Higginson. “They talk about Canada’s new international standing while they walk away from international commitments; they talk about the need for action, and offer none. Canadians won’t be fooled.”

“The Speech from the Throne charts a course that is not compatible with Canada playing a responsible part in preventing catastrophic climate change,” said Jean Langlois of the Sierra Club of Canada.

Youri Cormier of the Sierra Youth Coalition adds, “This government has failed to rise to the challenge of climate change. Young Canadians want to inherit a world worth inheriting, and clearly this government has no plan to create a greener economy.”

“For polluting industries, this throne speech is Christmas in October,” said John Bennett of ClimateforChange.ca.

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