OTTAWA, April 19, 2007
–The Honourable John Baird, Minister of
the Environment today reiterated the Government’s
commitment to real action on the environment,
but cautioned that with only eight months
remaining, Canada cannot reach its 2008
to 2012 Kyoto targets, as required under
Bill C-288, without intentionally manufacturing
an economic recession.
Minister Baird today tabled a detailed
economic impact report called “The Cost
of Bill C-288 to Canadian Families and Business”
before the Senate Standing Committee on
Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources.
The Government of Canada study – supported
by leading, independent Canadian economists
– shows the cost of compliance with Bill
C-288 at this time would result in devastating
impacts for Canadian families, jobs and
the economy.
The study forecasts immediate and far-reaching
impacts on Canadians and the economy including:
• 275,000 Canadians would lose their job
by 2009
• The cost of electricity bills would jump
50% after 2010
• The cost of filling up a car would jump
60%
• The cost of heating a home by natural
gas would double
“Canada’s New Government is taking action
to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas
emissions by making responsible economic
decisions that will achieve environmental
progress,” said Minister Baird.
“Given that the opposition parties passed
C-288 in the House, Canada’s New Government
has a responsibility to Parliament and to
the people of Canada to report on the impact
of this Bill’s call for strict adherence
to Kyoto in light of the previous government’s
inaction on the file.”
The study shows that Canada’s GDP would
decline by over 4.2%. This is comparable
to the deepest recession since World War
II, which Canadians faced in 1981-82. Many
still remember the pain of that time.
“The official opposition wants us to recklessly
correct their past mistakes,” said Minister
Baird. “Our preference is to pursue a balanced
approach that recognizes the urgent need
to act on the environment, while also respecting
our responsibility to keep Canadian families
working.”
This study, prepared by the Government
of Canada, was validated by Don Drummond,
Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist
at Toronto Dominion Bank Financial Group;
Jean-Thomas Bernard, Professor, Department
of Economics, Laval University; Mark Jaccard,
Professor, School of Resource and Environmental
Management, Simon Fraser University; David
Keith, Canada Research Chair in Energy and
the Environment, University of Calgary;
and, Christopher Green, Professor, Department
of Economics, McGill University.
For more information on impacts of meeting
Canada’s Kyoto Protocol targets, see the
report: “The Cost of Bill C-288 to Canadian
Families and Business” at www.ec.gc.ca/doc/media/m_123/toc_eng.html
(PDF version, 500 kb)
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
