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Great News for Canadians Concerned for Global Warming
Victory! The Climate Change Accountability Act passes its third and final reading in the House of Commons!
With Special Thanks to WCCE Board Member Michelle Mech, who, along with many others across the country, worked tirelessly to make this happen.
For Release May 5, 2010
Climate Action Network Canada
Climate Change Accountability Act a Step Forward for Canada
OTTAWA—Members of the Climate Action Network-Réseau Action Climat Canada are very pleased to celebrate historic progress in Canadian climate change policy today with the passing of the third reading vote on the Climate Change Accountability Act (Bill C-311).
“The passing of the Climate Change Accountability Act is a huge victory for climate change policy in Canada,” said John Bennett of Sierra Club Canada. “The environmental movement has supported this Bill from its inception as one of the strongest pieces of climate change legislation in Canadian politics.”
“All three opposition parties must be congratulated for their support for the Climate Change Accountability Act,” said Dale Marshall of the David Suzuki Foundation. “This support reminds us that the majority of Members of Parliament, along with the majority of Canadians and provinces want stronger action on climate change. “
“The Harper government has fumbled the ball on climate change. The upcoming G8 and G20 summits are an opportunity for Canada to show some leadership,” said Dave Martin from Greenpeace Canada. “The targets laid out in the Climate Change Accountability Act, together with money on the table to help poorer countries cope with climate change would send a message to the world that Canada is ready to take this seriously.”
The Climate Change Accountability Act requires that the Canadian federal government implement regulations and policies to attain a long-term target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below the 1990 level by 2050.
Bill C-311 has passed third reading with the opposition parties voting in favour. As this historic Bill passes through the House of Commons, Climate Action Network Canada looks forward to working together with all parties and the Senate to ensure rapid implementation of ambitious Canadian climate policy.
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For comment:
Dale Marshall, 613.302.9913
Dave Martin, 416.627.5004
John Bennett, 613.291.6888
For further information and media inquires:
Hannah McKinnon, 613.276.7791
Climate Action Network Canada – Réseau action climat Canada is a nation-wide coalition of more than 50 environmental, faith, development, labour, aboriginal, health, and youth organizations committed to making action on climate change by Canada a reality.
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Harper hears transatlantic calls for climate-change reform
By Mike De Souza, Canwest News Service May 5, 2010
OTTAWA — The Harper government was urged to fight climate change on both sides of the Atlantic Wednesday through separate votes in both the Canadian and European parliaments.
In the House of Commons, MPs adopted a new version of the climate change accountability legislation that had reached the Senate in 2008, but died on the order paper when Prime Minister Stephen Harper called an election in the fall of that year.
The new version of the legislation, introduced by NDP MP Bruce Hyer, once again calls on the government to introduce a climate-change plan with targets that are consistent with scientific evidence about the need to reduce emissions levels that are trapping heat in the atmosphere and causing dangerous changes to climate.
While the Conservatives voted against the legislation, members from the Liberal Party and the Bloc Quebecois joined the NDP to adopt the bill and — by a 149-136 vote — sent it to the Senate for review.
“Let’s hope this time, the Senate gets to it quickly,” said NDP Leader Jack Layton. “Last time this bill passed three readings in the house, Stephen Harper managed to squeeze in an election, just before the Senate was about to approve the first legislation adopted in the world with deep reduction targets for greenhouse-gas emissions.”
If approved by the Senate, the bill would also require an arm’s-length assessment and evaluation to monitor the government’s progress in tackling greenhouse-gas pollution….
