Conservatives again fail to deliver on pollution reduction

Disappointing new coal power regulations insufficient to meet emission reduction targets

ST. JOHN’S – Long overdue emissions regulations for the coal-fired electricity sector announced today fall far short of what Conservatives originally promised and are a huge disappointment for Canadians, according to the NDP.

“With these weak regulations, Conservative Environment Minister Peter Kent is demonstrating yet again how Conservatives listen only to industry and refuse to take climate change seriously,” said New Democrat Environment Critic Megan Leslie. “It will take decades before those regulations have any positive impact on emissions – and it is future generations who will pay the price.”

With these regulations falling far short of what was promised, the federal Conservatives are simply leaving the heavy lifting to the provinces.

“Conservatives like to claim they’re bringing Canada closer to its 2020 targets, but in reality they are trying to take credit for reductions being achieved by the provinces,” said Leslie. “The Conservatives’ glacial sector-by-sector approach is simply failing to achieve the emissions reductions they promised.”

Conservatives also promised oil and gas industry emissions regulations before the 2009 Copenhagen conference but have been dragging their feet ever since.