OTTAWA - Environment Minister John Baird has wasted no time in reaching out to country's environmental groups, and they have been equally quick to specify the price of their support.
It comes down mainly to one word: Kyoto.
Compliance with the climate treaty is at the top of a program unanimously supported by a coalition of leading environmental groups, from the David Suzuki Foundation to the Sierra Club.
The list was presented to Baird in a meeting at his Vancouver office Tuesday.
"Canadians know we're facing a climate crisis and they want to see real action,'' said John Bennett, executive director of the Climate Action Network, at an Ottawa news conference Tuesday.
The environmental groups' demands deal primarily with climate change:
- Absolute emissions targets for the biggest industrial polluters by no later than 2008.
- Vehicle emissions regulations no less stringent than those of California.
- Aggressive objectives and funding for the deployment of renewable power such as solar, geothermal and biofuels.
- Restoration of the EnerGuide for Houses program, cancelled by the Conservatives, which provides grants to make houses more efficient.
- Increased investment in climate research and public education.
The demands present the government with a major challenge since Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said the Kyoto target -- a six per cent cut in emissions from 1990 levels by 2012 _ is unachievable. Environmentalists insist the target can be met using the treaty's "flexibility mechanisms,'' including international emissions trading, which the Tories have so far rejected.
"We cannot protect this country from climate change by domestic action alone,'' said Louise Comeau of the Sage Centre.
She said the investments needed to meet the Kyoto targets would make Canada's economy more efficient and set up industry to export green technology.
"I am pleased to have the opportunity to meet with members of the Canadian environmental community, particularly at this early stage in my new role as environment minister,'' Baird said in a release prior to the meeting.
"I look forward to discussing what actions we can work on together to address Canadian environmental challenges like clean air, climate change and chemical substances management.''
The meeting with the environmental groups was arranged at Baird's request. A number of groups had scheduled a retreat at Bowen Island, near Vancouver, providing the opportunity for a meeting.
A spokesman for Baird says the newly-minted minister hopes to meet with all opposition critics.
"I think Mr. Baird's primary role is to try to make nice, essentially,'' he said. "(Former environment minister Rona) Ambrose was unable to do this and picked a fight almost from day one,'' said NDP environment critic Nathan Cullen.
Some of the environmentalists' demands go beyond the climate initiatives proposed by the former Liberal government, or the platform put forward by Stephane Dion in his quest for the Liberal leadership.
But Liberal environment critic John Godfrey endorsed them all without hesitation.
"As Liberals we intend to work ... to advance this plan and the points contained therein,'' he said.
