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Tip: Your message to SUST-MAR must be html-free. So, BEFORE you hit SEND, please go to your "Format" pull-down menu and select "Plain text." Thanks! ____________________________________________________________________________ -----Original Message----- From: Robert G. Bromley Remind PM Martin and the new NRCan minister over Canada's Kyoto commitments!!! (Passed on from Lewis at Yukon Conservation Society) Take a few minutes and scribble some thoughts on a postcard to the following politicians asking them to follow through on Canada's Kyoto commitments. Postage to [MPs] is free . . . . Detailed information on how Paul Martin and company might be backing out of Kyoto is below the addresses. Forward onwards as you see fit. The Right Honourable Paul Martin Prime Minister of Canada House of Commons Parliament Buildings Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Fax: (613) 992-4291 e-mail: Martin.P@parl.gc.ca John Efford Minister of Natural Resources Canada House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1A 0A6 Fax: (613) 996-4516 e-mail: John.Efford@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca Is the government of Prime Minister Martin betraying the Canadians who supported ratifying the Kyoto Protocol and future generations who will be forced to live with the impacts of climate change? New Natural Resources Ministers John Efford 's comments make it sound like Canada is abandoning not only its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) but also to full and proper environmental review of megaprojects Several developments indicate that the Martin administration is seeking to withdraw Canada from the Kyoto Protocol. The actions of the new Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. John Efford, illustrate a change in policy regarding Canada fullfilling its obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the international agreement. In one month, Mr. Efford has undermined and prejudged the outcome of the public review of offshore oil and gas development in British Columbia; undermined and brought into question the objectivity of any future hearings on the Mackenzie Valley pipeline; backed the use of nuclear power despite its track record of unreliability, unsustainable economic implications and huge environmental risks; and undermined Canada's commitment to reducing GHGs by advocating expanding the production of fossil fuels. Further, he has made it clear that a Paul Martin government puts shipping oil and gas to the US ahead of protecting present future Canadians from air pollution and climate change. John Efford told reporters the federal government is examining whether to further limit the obligations of industry to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases under the Kyoto Protocol.(See January 12, 2004 Globe and Mail article below). Another disturbing trend is the secrecy in which the Ministry of Natural Resources negotiates with the private sector. For example, there is a report published on the effectiveness of GHG reductions resulting from Action Plan 2000. This plan contributes to about 50MT GHG reductions as part of the federal government's Climate Change Plan. To comply with the Kyoto Protocol, Canada needs to reduce its annual GHG emissions of 240 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2e) below the federal government projection of what emissions would be in 2010 under a "business-as-usual" scenario. Meanwhile Federal Finance Minister Ralph Goodale opened his national pre-budget consultations with an emphasis on tight spending ahead. ( see January 12 2004 Canadian Press article http://ca.fullcoverage.yahoo.com/fc/breakingca/federal_budget/ ) In other words, while the Minister of Finance is holding public meetings telling Canadians to lower their expectations, the Minister of Natural Resources is holding closed-door meetings telling industry to raise their expectations. It is imperative that citizens write to Prime Minister Paul Martin to express their dismay at his government's pulling out of the Kyoto Protocol. The comments by Mr. Efford are a pre-election trial-balloon to see whether the Martin government can pull out of the Kyoto Protocol. ____________________________________________________________________________ Did a friend forward this to you? Join sust-mar yourself! Just send 'subscribe sust-mar' to mailto:majordomo@chebucto.ca
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