OTTAWA - Global warming caused by climate change will be the latest hot issue on the agenda for Canada's premiers meeting this week in Vancouver.
Their discussions aren't likely to go any smoother than the vigorous, often acrimonious debates they've had in the past over equalization payments and health care.
B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell will lead the climate-change discussion, almost a year after his government delivered a throne speech promising some of the most aggressive measures to clamp down on greenhouse gas emissions in the country.
But Campbell says he won't be there to preach. And even if he were, it's unlikely Alberta -- for one -- would be listening.
"I'm not trying to convince anybody of anything,'' said Campbell.
"I think all the premiers understand how important the climate change agenda is. I never put myself in a position where I'm talking about what other premiers should do. I wouldn't like it if they were doing that to me. We have to say to ourselves how do we make as much progress as possible.''
British Columbia introduced legislation last fall that enshrines its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 33 per cent by 2020.
The province is expected to introduce some of its methods of achieving that goal in its budget next month.
Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach announced his province's green plan last week aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions levels to 14 per cent below 2005 levels by 2050.
Deep, immediate cuts would be devastating to the province's economy, which is fuelled by the energy industry, he said.
Campbell said B.C. chose to take an aggressive approach on climate change because the government believes a healthy environment is good for business and the future of the province.
"I think if we lead by example, show the economic benefits of acting early on climate change, show the potential for improving not just the quality of life for ourselves but for our grandchildren, and if we're right, then I think Alberta will learn from that,'' he said.
Alberta, the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the country, has faced withering criticism and ridicule from environmentalists for their plan, which doesn't call for any net reductions in emissions for 12 years.
Meanwhile, many environmentalists have given cautious but tacit support to Campbell's plan and to that of Quebec Premier Jean Charest's plan to have his province abide by the Kyoto Accord.
Alberta's plan amounts to a denial of the serious environmental issues posed by climate change, said Lisa Matthaus, of the B.C. Sierra Club.
"The other premiers need to put some pressure on Alberta to do its fair share in helping Canada regain a leadership position on climate change,'' she said.
She also urged the premiers to form a front to take on Prime Minister Stephen Harper's approach to climate change.
"It's the federal government that has the same misguided approach to thinking they are protecting the (Alberta) tar sands when in fact they are confining them to the dust heap of fuel production,'' she said.
The the premiers and territorial leaders are meeting as the Council of the Federation and pride themselves as being a collaborative group.
As a result, the pre-meeting chatter will revolve more around finding common ground than stuffing the message about reducing greenhouse gas emissions down somebody's throat.
But Atlantic Canada's premiers say they have other issues they want to discuss.
They say they are prepared to make moves on the climate change issue, but they are also coming to Vancouver expecting to talk about the economy, especially the fears about an economic downturn in the United States.
"The state of the Canadian economy is top of mind for all premiers, and there will be discussions following up on our (recent) meeting with Prime Minister Harper in Ottawa on how we can move collectively together to overcome the challenges of a potential recession in the U.S,'' said New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham.
Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald said he expects the the leaders to discuss relaxing provincial trade barriers.
"Our belief is we should have a free trade system across the country. We have it with other countries. We should have it within our own,'' he said.
"If you have engineering credentials here in Nova Scotia it should make you an engineer in any other part of the country or a teacher or a nurse, whatever.''
Prince Edward Island Premier Robert Ghiz said his province expects to address rising sea levels on Tuesday when the leaders discuss plans to adapt to climate change.
"That's got a major impact here in our province,'' he said. "We're now looking at storm surges that are coming along and causing tens of millions of dollars worth of damage on Prince Edward Island.''
