sust-mar: ACTION REQUIRED: speak up on Kyoto once more

From: "Paul Falvo" <falvo@yk.com>
To: <sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca>
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 20:10:35 -0700
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____________________________________________________________________________
-----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.

____________________________________________________________________________
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