Environmentalists who have read the document say it is a strong first step and a sign that Ottawa is taking global warming seriously. But they worried it will lose out to tax cuts or other spending priorities in the February budget. The document makes it clear that those pushing the climate-change issue are frustrated with the lack of progress made so far. Provinces and industry are just coming on board, according to the document, with Alberta, Quebec and Nova Scotia taking the most progressive approaches. Ottawa must, it says, be a leader.
Support is fragile. . . .
Most need a clear signal that government is serious before committing to action. Without this signal we lose momentum. The cabinet was also warned that Canada is already falling behind competitors who are making concrete steps to tackle climate change. Even the United States and Australia, two notorious laggards in recognizing the need for action, have outdone Canada so far. But domestic measures will not be enough to meet the Kyoto target.