First off, I watch a lot of news, especially of late, so this observation may not be valid. But if there is one thing that this Canada-US dust-up has done is to expose that the Liberals have done less than nothing on the Kyoto file.
The story has been consistently reported like this:
- PM Martin criticized the US for not signing the Kyoto Protocol - 'cause, ya know, there is a "global conscience"
- Ambassador gives speech which counters claim by saying that the US has done more outside of Kyoto than Canada has done in it
- Media commenter confirms US position by saying that Canada's emissions have gone up 24% (when they were supposed to go down) whereas the United States' emission are up only 13%
I don't think the NDP or Conservatives could thought of a better way of exposing that fact. Now SES Research may show a jump in Martin's leadership value by thumping his chest, his hypocrisy value must be on the rise as well.
To put a nail in this coffin Environment Canada released a report confirming how bad the Liberal record is on the environment.
...Air quality deteriorated in Canada during the past 10 years, while greenhouse gas emissions rose 24 per cent, a new report said Wednesday.
The study, prepared by Environment Canada, Statistics Canada and Health Canada, revealed that by 2003, emissions of greenhouse gases were 32 per cent above the targets set out by the Kyoto Protocol for 2008 to 2012.
Pollution levels in lakes and rivers also remained a concern, the report said.
The findings come just days after Prime Minister Paul Martin criticized the United States for its policy on climate change, saying it had failed to yield to a "global conscience" in its refusal to sign the Kyoto Protocol.
