Canada to Ratify the Kyoto Protocol

Windsor, Ontario -

The Citizens Environment Alliance (CEA) welcomed the announcement from Prime Minister Chrétien that his Government will allow a Commons vote on the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change. "I think it's unfortunate that it is taking so long for the Prime Minister to address this issue, but announcing a parliamentary vote on ratification makes its adoption virtually certain," said Shawn Hupka, Executive Director of the CEA.

In August, 96 Liberal MPs presented a letter to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien that stated their unequivocal support for ratifying the Kyoto Protocol on climate change before the end of the year. Since all opposition parties except the Canadian Alliance also support the accord, parliamentary approval is almost certain.

Windsorites might remember that former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and MP for Windsor-West, the Right Honourable Herb Gray, pledged a commitment to climate protection by agreeing to ratify the Kyoto Protocol in July 2001 at international negotiations in Germany.

The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement to reduce global green house gas emissions. A global reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) is necessary to protect against climate change and possible adverse effects on human health, the physical environment, national economies and our general quality of life.

Windsor must play a role in addressing Climate Change

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives have established Partners for Climate Protection Program to provide a forum for municipal governments to demonstrate their leadership on climate change issues and undertake to share their knowledge and experience with other municipal governments.

Nearly 100 Municipal Governments in Canada are members of the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) and have committed to working towards reducing greenhouse gas emission in their municipal operations.

The PCP program helps Canadian municipalities prepare and implement local climate action plans. In doing so, PCP directly supports community sustainable development across Canada. PCP members follow a five milestone process for achieving tangible reductions in local greenhouse gas emissions.

The Citizens Environment Alliance has thrice asked the City of Windsor to join other municipalities in working at achieving tangible reductions in local greenhouse gas emissions. All three times the request was denied.

"It's really sad that the City of Windsor has missed out on opportunities to work cooperatively with the PCP Program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Hupka. "We've recommended that both the City of Windsor and the County of Essex join the PCP Program and work together at meaningful air pollution reduction targets. With the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol imminent, the time to join is now."

For more information contact:

Paul Gregory, Information Officer
Sustainable Communities and Environmental Policy
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
(613) 241-5221 Ext. 291

Shawn Hupka
President, Citizens Environment Alliance
(519) 973-1116

FCM - Partners for Climate Protection Communities (as of April 2002)