Leona Aglukkaq wouldn’t answer opposition MP questions about when the government will release draft regulations to crack down on carbon emissions from the oil and gas sector. Nor would her department explain why it had kept the regulations secret, or undertaken what Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development Julie Gelfand termed a narrow and private consultation.
Gelfand revealed Tuesday that the government had a draft of the regulations for more than a year, sharing it with only a few industry representatives and the province of Alberta.
Under pressure in the House of Commons Wednesday, Aglukkaq pointed to the United States as the reason for delays in bringing about new rules.
“This is a continental issue and we need a North American-wide solution. Our government will continue to work with the United States on reducing greenhouse gas emissions for the oil and gas sector. We feel it is best to align with the United States,” Aglukkaq said.
She also criticized Gelfand’s report – the first produced by Gelfand as new environment commissioner – citing a letter from a renewable fuels industry group that said Gelfand’s report omitted the government’s work to reduce emissions while helping to grow the biofuels industry.
“Our government record is very clear. We have taken decisive actions in a responsible way to protect our environment and support our economy,” Aglukkaq said.
The Conservatives promised regulations eight years ago and appeared ready to release them in 2012, but pulled back after the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers criticized the government for “serious deficiencies” and a “lack of constructive dialogue” on the proposed emission rules, according to a letter obtained by Postmedia News using the access to information law.
The regulations would crack down on carbon emissions in a sector where emissions are growing faster than in any other industry under federal watch. Regulations for passenger vehicles came into effect on Wednesday, bringing Canada in line with American standards.
The continuing lack of oil and gas regulations is one reason Canada is unlikely to meet its overall promises for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Gelfand said. She said the government has no plan to correct this.
Environmental groups critical of Conservative inaction on the promise for regulations worry that once the draft rules are released, the Conservatives won’t be open to amending them in any way.
“Once they (release) them, they won’t change them. They’ve been quite clear that once they’ve made up their minds … nothing is changeable,” said John Bennett, national director for the Sierra Club Canada Foundation.
Original Article
Source: canada.com/
Author: BY JORDAN PRESS
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