Bill to tackle climate change faces crucial vote

OTTAWA – Canada’s climate change commitment will be tested this Wednesday when the Climate Change Accountability Act (Bill C-311) comes up for a do or die vote.

“It is time for our actions to match our words,” said New Democrat MP Bruce Hyer (Thunder Bay–Superior North) who introduced bill. “This bill was designed to set Canada on a path to finally reducing our greenhouse-gas pollution. A political commitment is needed to give industry and the public certainty on where we’re going and to protect our future health and prosperity. It’s a priority for Canadians, it’s a priority for the world, and now it is time to show that it is a priority for this Parliament.”

C-311, the country’s only federal climate-change legislation, will commit the federal government to achieving practical, science-based greenhouse-gas reduction targets, and make it accountable to Canadians through regular reports on actions taken to meet the targets.

Despite temporarily wavering Liberal support that stalled C-311 in committee for much of 2009, the Bill has to date enjoyed the support of the majority of the House.

C-311 was modelled on Bill C-377, which was introduced by New Democrat Leader Jack Layton in 2007. This bill was passed by the House of Commons in 2008 with the support of the Liberals and the Bloc, but died in the Senate when the election was called.

<!--block.tpl.php-->