Greenhouse emissions-cutting target promised for January could be months away.
It could be weeks or months before the government announces mandatory targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, says a spokesman for Environment Minister John Baird.
Former environment minister Rona Ambrose had promised the targets would be made public in mid-January.
"There was some optimism that this could be completed by January but it looks like it’s going to take a little bit more work," said Mike van Soelen, Baird’s press secretary, in an interview Friday.
"It could be a matter of weeks or months but we will fulfil our obligation to bring this out this winter or spring."
Environmentalists say it’s understandable that Baird needs time to study his portfolio before making decisions, but some fear the delay could signal deeper problems.
"Hopefully we’re not seeing the type of disarray that haunted the last minister," said Pierre Sadik of the David Suzuki Foundation.
Short-term targets for cutting greenhouse emissions are seen as vital to altering perceptions that the Conservatives are weak on the environment. The government’s Clean Air Act was denounced by opposition parties and environmentalists because it did not set any target for cutting emissions before 2050.
Ambrose responded to that criticism by stressing the government’s intent to announce mandatory short-term targets early this year. A delay in announcing the targets would give the government a freer hand in attempting to salvage the Clean Air Act, which goes before a Commons committee Monday.
If the government announced a target deemed unacceptably low by the opposition parties, the negotiations could be undermined. There is at least a theoretical possibility that the government could fall over the issue. If the government announced a target deemed unacceptably high by industry, it could run into problems with its political base. Discussions with industry are underway.
"I think it’s good that we aren’t rushing to publish targets," said Jason Myers, senior vice-president and chief economist with the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
"The whole thing is that they’re negotiating with industry to figure out what industry can deliver.
"These negotiations and discussions really have to lead to effective targets that make sense for industry, otherwise industry will say, fine, we’ll just go and produce and emit elsewhere."
NDP Leader Jack Layton told The Canadian Press earlier this month he will not support the Clean Air Act unless it affirms the target of the Kyoto Protocol, a six per cent cut in emissions from 1990 levels by 2012.
But some of his subsequent statements have fueled speculation the NDP could support the act if the government makes concessions in other areas, such as cutting subsidies to the Alberta oil sands. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May said the only acceptable short-term target is that enshrined in the Kyoto Protocol.
"If the NDP are prepared to prop up the Harper government they will be in an impossible situation, morally, ethically and politically, if they settle for anything less than the Kyoto target."
NDP spokesman Karl Belanger said there has been some discussion with Baird’s office on the issue, but no firm positions have been taken.
"There are some open channels obviously but right now we’re not at the stage of negotiation, but of learning what our respective positions are."
Belanger said that stopping subsidies for the oil sands is a key issue for the NDP.
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