Canadien Prime Minister Harper's letter dismisses Kyoto as 'socialist scheme'

[Logan13]

Canadien Prime Minister Harper's letter dismisses Kyoto as 'socialist scheme'
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/...per-kyoto.html
01/30/07

Prime Minister Stephen Harper once called the Kyoto accord a "socialist scheme" designed to suck money out of rich countries, according to a letter leaked Tuesday by the Liberals.

The letter, posted on the federal Liberal party website, was apparently written by Harper in 2002, when he was leader of the now-defunct Canadian Alliance party.

He was writing to party supporters, asking for money as he prepared to fight then-prime minister Jean Chrétien on the proposed Kyoto accord.

"We're gearing up now for the biggest struggle our party has faced since you entrusted me with the leadership," Harper's letter says.

"I'm talking about the 'battle of Kyoto' — our campaign to block the job-killing, economy-destroying Kyoto accord."

The accord is an international environmental pact that sets targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Canada officially ratified the accord Dec. 17, 2002, under Chrétien's Liberal government. Harper's Conservative government, which took power January 2006, has since been accused of ignoring the accord.

Harper's letter goes on to outline why he's against the agreement.

Accord based on 'contradictory' data: Harper

He writes that it's based on "tentative and contradictory scientific evidence" and it focuses on carbon dioxide, which is "essential to life."

He says Kyoto requires that Canada make significant cuts in emissions, while countries like Russia, India and China face less of a burden.

Under Kyoto, Canada was required to reduce emissions by six per cent by 2012, while economies in transition, like Russia, were allowed to choose different base years. As developing nations, China and India were exempted from binding targets for the first round of reductions.

"Kyoto is essentially a socialist scheme to suck money out of wealth-producing nations," Harper's letter reads.

He said the accord would cripple the oil and gas industries, which are essential to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

He wrote in the letter that he would do everything he could to stop Chrétien from passing the Kyoto agreement.

"We will do everything we can to stop him there, but he might get it passed with the help of the socialists in the NDP and the separatists in the BQ [Bloc Québécois]."

The Prime Minister's Office refused to comment about the letter on the record.

In recent weeks, Harper has spoken strongly about the environment, saying he will dramatically revamp his minority government's much-criticized clean air act.

His comments come as public-opinion polls indicate the environment has become the number one issue among Canadians.

Liberal MP Mark Holland told the Canadian Press on Tuesday that the leaked letter shows that Harper isn't actually committed to climate change.

"Now, suddenly, because he has seen the polls and realized the political opportunism of going green, the prime minister has launched a new campaign — that of trying to convince Canadians that he actually cares about the environment," Holland said.

"But no one is buying it."

The Kyoto Protocol went into effect Feb. 16, 2005, with 141 countries signing on, including every major industrialized country, except the United States, Australia and Monaco.

[Logan13]

This is the most important point that I make when discussing Global warming as well. CO2 is a naturally occurring compound, plant life requires CO2 to live, just as we require O2. Johan will just love this.
He writes that it's based on "tentative and contradictory scientific evidence" and it focuses on carbon dioxide, which is "essential to life."

[Red Ketchup]

Thats actually a letter he sent before being PM of Canada, and it's coming back to haunt him. It has the potential to make his government fall in the months to come.

It's well known in Canada that Harper is Bushes lapdog when it comes to issues of global warming, big business running government and war. His "opinions" cited in that letter on global warming are not in the least bit shared by most Canadians.

He was elected as a minority government quite simply because he was the "lesser of many evils".

Red

[Logan13]

Thats actually a letter he sent before being PM of Canada, and it's coming back to haunt him. It has the potential to make his government fall in the months to come.

It's well known in Canada that Harper is Bushes lapdog when it comes to issues of global warming, big business running government and war. His "opinions" cited in that letter on global warming are not in the least bit shared by most Canadians.

He was elected as a minority government quite simply because he was the "lesser of many evils".

Red

Bush is not fighting against Global warming, so how can he be Bush's "lapdog"? Bush is actually taking flack from the more conservative members of his party for his stance on GW. Are you telling me that CO2 is a lethal compound to the earth? His arguement is valid, regardless of who is making it...........

[Red Ketchup]

CO2 is a lethal compound to the earth IF it accumulates to the point of changing the climate... isn't that the whole debate on CO2 emissions?

As for environmental issues, I don't know how Bush is percieved inside the US, but internationally he is not seen as doing much to help.

Red

[Kärnfysikern]

This is the most important point that I make when discussing Global warming as well. CO2 is a naturally occurring compound, plant life requires CO2 to live, just as we require O2. Johan will just love this.
He writes that it's based on "tentative and contradictory scientific evidence" and it focuses on carbon dioxide, which is "essential to life."

Well its not like I turn to politicians when I want credible science

Since his personal analysis of the evidence isnt supported by scientists he is just flattering himself by thinking he acctualy understands it.

Nobody denies that CO2 is essential to life.
But just because for instance iron in small dosages is crucial for lifes it doesnt mean large doses wont harm you.

[Kärnfysikern]

By the way. If kyoto is such a industry kille. Wouldnt it kill the european industries. Yet european countries has no problem signing it and trust me we care as much about industries as Harper or Bush. Except the greens maby but they can go **** themself.

[Prada]

Kyoto letter has come back to haunt Harper, Liberal MPs say

Last Updated: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 | 4:36 PM ET
CBC News

Opposition Liberal MPs demanded Wednesday that Prime Minister Stephen Harper explain a letter he wrote five years ago in which he derides the Kyoto accord.

Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion asked Harper twice in question period to indicate whether his position on the issue has changed.

"Canada is unfortunate enough to have a prime minister who is a climate change denier," Dion said in the House of Commons.

"A real leader says he was wrong and says, 'I agree I was wrong and I changed my mind,'" he said.

In the letter, written in 2002, Harper describes Kyoto as a "socialist scheme" designed to suck money out of rich countries.

"Will he admit that the new environmental facade is just an attempt to mislead the Canadian people?" asked Dion.

The letter, on the federal Liberal party website, was written by Harper when he was leader of the now-defunct Canadian Alliance party.
Government acting: Harper

Harper, who did not acknowledge in question period that he wrote the letter, replied to Dion: "This government has made it clear in the election campaign that we accept the science and that's why we're acting."

He said the government has acted by introducing Canada's clean air act, proposed legislation to deal with greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. It is before a special legislative committee.

Harper added that Dion should give a new name to his dog, known as Kyoto, to reflect "various denials" by the Liberals on important issues.

Harper said Dion could call his dog "Clean Air," "Fiscal Imbalance," or even "The Sponsorship Scandal."

The prime minister said later he believes there should be a world conference on climate change and he would be willing to go to such a meeting.

"We all recognize this is a serious environmental problem that needs immediate action," Harper told the House of Commons.

"Canada's decision to do nothing over the past decade was a mistake and we want to do better."

Environment Minister John Baird came to Harper's defence over the letter, quoting passages from Liberal MPs who had criticized Kyoto.

Baird said the Liberals had done nothing to cut greenhouse gases while they were in power.
'Prisoners of past beliefs'

Earlier on Parliament Hill, other Liberal MPs said the past has come back to haunt Harper.

"People are prisoners of their past beliefs," said Michael Ignatieff, Liberal MP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore.

"It's very difficult for a leopard to change its spots."

John McCallum, Liberal MP for Markham-Unionville, said: "That's the real Mr. Harper. Today's Mr. Harper is the one who reads polls."

Conservative MPs, meanwhile, when asked before question period about the letter, dismissed its importance and said they do not think much of Kyoto anyway.

"I hear it's a dog," Tory caucus whip Jay Hill said.

Saskatchewan MP Andrew Scheer said: "The Kyoto accord itself doesn't do a whole lot — as we've seen with the Liberal record — to reduce greenhouse gases.

"It's a trading system, a transfer of wealth from one part of the world to another."
With files from the Canadian Press

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