By killing Kyoto, Harper will put sustainable Canadian jobs at risk

Rest of the world will now move forward on new energy economy without Canada: Turmel

OTTAWA – NDP leader Nycole Turmel slammed the Conservatives for sabotaging the climate change talks in Durban and standing up for big polluters, not Canadian families concerned about the environment. She said that continued environmental inaction from the Harper Conservatives is tarnishing Canada’s reputation and putting Canadian jobs at risk.

“The rest of the world is moving forward with clean energy solutions, and under Stephen Harper, Canada is being left behind. That’s bad news for our environment, and its bad news for Canadian families who will be shut out of high-paying sustainable energy jobs.

New Democrats responded in the House of Commons today by using their Opposition Day motion to call on the government to take urgent action on the environment and to secure Canadian jobs in the new energy sector.

“Our major trading partners in Europe and the US are shutting the door to energy trade with Canada, because of Harper’s job-killing environmental inaction,” continued Turmel. “Canadians have been clear: they don’t want to be left behind. We have to invest in a sustainable world for future generations and invest in the clean jobs of tomorrow.”

Both the European Union and the United States have recently begun closing the door on trade opportunities with Canada due to Conservative inaction on climate change. And at last week’s UN conference on climate change, the Conservative government was lambasted by other delegates for being the country to have done the most to block progress on climate change.

“Conservative inaction on climate change is embarrassing Canada on a global scale – and sending a clear message to countries that are moving forward with clean energy economies: don’t invest here,” said Turmel.

“The debate in the House of Commons today will highlight the clear choice for Canadians. Job killing inaction on the environment, or the New Democrat vision of a Canada where we invest in future generations, invest in clean jobs and become a world leader in fighting climate change and building the new energy economy.”