Bill C-311: Climate Change Accountability Act back in the House

11/15/2009

How to compete with the international stage?  While all eyes were on Copenhagen, the federal Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development agreed to report Bill C-311 back to Parliament without amendment.  The December 8th report means that the House of Commons could vote on effectively the same bill that it passed last session. The bill would require government to publish a greenhouse gas reduction plan capable of meeting targets prescribed in the bill itself. This limit on executive discretion  looks clairvoyant following December 14th statements by  Climate  Action Network Canada that a current draft plan cannot actually meet Canada’s proposal to the cop15. The global audience fears a rerun, as Canada’s official plan has no capacity to honor the Kyoto Protocol.  With or without a new deal, returning delegates may face a legislature ready to bind policy with law.

For ELC comments on Bill-C311, see News Brief Vol24 No3.