The Canadian government has a perplexing problem: how to deal with environmentally polluting emissions from its highly profitable Alberta oil fields.
During a meeting this week with auto industry officials, Canada's conservative government backed away from reports it would impose higher emission standards on the auto industry in eastern Canada. The proposal had been strongly opposed by automakers, who say the oil fields should be responsible for addressing air pollution and resulting climate change, The Washington Post reported Thursday.
Critics say that retreat shows Ottawa is waffling in its attempt to provide an alternative to the Kyoto Protocol, which the government claims is unworkable.
"They are trying to convince Canadians they are doing something on the environment when they are not," John Bennett, a senior policy adviser with the Sierra Club of Canada, told The Post. "It's just spin."
But Canadian Auto Workers Union President Buzz Hargrove most strongly opposes more restrictions on the ailing auto industry. "We are faced with an industry losing billions and workers losing their jobs. The oil and gas industry is making billions of dollars. If someone's going to contribute something, surely there should be some balance," he said.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International
Related stories:
Canadian Automobile Industry and Government Agree on Climate Change Action
A landmark agreement on climate change action was signed by the Government of Canada and the Canadian automobile industry today. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), automobile manufacturers voluntarily agree to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from new vehicles in Canada so that by 2010, annual emissions reductions will reach 5.3 megatonnes. The MOU signing took place at Auto 21, an automotive engineering facility at the University of Windsor.
Japan firms step up mobile security after stabbing rampage
Japanese mobile telephone content providers are setting up safeguards to protect young people amid shock after a disgruntled young man used his phone to document his plans for a stabbing rampage.
Monster founder sets sights on online obituaries
(AP) -- Fourteen years ago, Jeff Taylor helped set off a tectonic shift in recruitment advertising by founding Monster.com, one of the first online companies to challenge a big profit source of newspapers.
Lasers, software and the Devil's Slide
Running for more than 1,000 kilometers along picturesque coastline, California's Highway 1 is easy prey for many of the natural hazards plaguing the region, including landslides.
Bottled water debate hits a boiling point
A debate over water is boiling over in the United States and elsewhere amid growing environmental concerns about bottled water and questions about safety of tap water.
Canadians argue for polar bear hunt
(AP) -- Officials from northern Canada were in Washington on Monday to make an unpopular argument: Let U.S. hunters continue to kill polar bears for sport.
Console makers embrace indie game developers
(AP) -- In the second grade, James Silva didn't just play "Mario" and "Zelda" on his Nintendo but drew pictures of new levels and cooked up ideas for future games. While other kids dreamed of becoming an astronaut or president, he felt destined to be a video game designer.
Canadian court allows largest ever leveraged buyout
(AP) -- BCE Inc. on Friday won the right to go ahead with the largest leveraged buyout in history, a US$35 billion deal that the telecommunications company's bondholders fought, saying it would reduce their holdings to junk.