Quebec City: The premiers of Ontario and Quebec say the federal government’s proposal to cut greenhouse gases has disappointed Canadians, so they’re going forward with their own plan.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty told CTV’s Canada AM that the federal government has failed to develop a plan that’s in line with the “ambitions and the aspirations of Canadians.”
Quebec Premier Jean Charest said the two provinces are looking to implement a cap-and-trade system to control emissions because that’s the way the rest of the world appears to be going.
Federal Environment Minister John Baird said the provinces’ plan threatens to undermine Canada’s approach to fighting climate change.
Baird says there must be one consistent plan across the country to control emissions from big polluters and it should come from the federal government.
The two provincial leaders are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding today outlining the basic framework for a cap-and-trade system.
The system will opt for “real reductions,” as opposed to the federal government’s “intensity-based” plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
It will also use 1990 as the baseline year for determining emission levels, whereas the Conservative plan uses 2006 as its reference point.