Canada's new environment minister says he knows that Canadians are deeply concerned about global warming and promises that he will lead the way towards action on the matter.
"I think Canadians expect us to do more. This is a big priority for Canadians," John Baird told Canada AM Friday.
Indeed, a new Decima Research poll shows the environment is the top concern of Canadian voters -- more of a concern than health care, the Afghanistan conflict and the economy. Nineteen per cent of the 1,727 respondents say the environment is their top issue followed by health care at 13 per cent.
Baird, the former Treasury Board president, took over the environment portfolio Thursday in a cabinet shuffle that saw Rona Ambrose bumped to intergovernmental affairs. Many had criticized Ambrose's work in the ministry, particularly her handling of the government's proposed Clean Air Act.
Environmentalists have been almost united in slamming the legislation, largely because timelines for reducing greenhouse gases were put off until as late as 2025.
Months after it was introduced, the legislation is still in limbo with an all-party legislative committee reviewing it, following a threat by the NDP's Jack Layton to topple the government over the issue. There are fears the bill won't get out of committee in any form before Finance Minister Jim Flaherty brings in his next budget.
Baird says he still believes the Clean Air Act can work and plans to put away politics to work with the opposition to improve it.
"What I want to do is work with the environmental movement. What I want to do is work with members of Parliament of other parties. If we just put aside who will get the credit and focused on pushing the ball forward, I think we can do great things," he said.
As for suggestions that Baird, who is known for his spirited attacks on the opposition during debates, is too adversarial for the increasingly important portfolio -- especially with the Conservatives holding only a minority government -- the minister dismisses those worries and says he can work with a team.
"I had a great experience over the last 12 months working on the Federal Accountability Act. I learned the importance of compromise and learned the importance of working with member of Parliament of other parties, and I'm certainly keen to do that."
"I hope that we can put aside politics and do what's best for Canada."
Bruce Cox, executive director of Greenpeace Canada, told the Canadian Press that he's "cautiously optimistic'' that Baird will be able to effect change.
"He's an experienced politician,'' Cox said of Baird. "He's not hailing from the oil patch (like Ambrose), but comes out of heartland Ontario where (Conservatives) have to pick up seats. So we're hopeful that it's actually a policy change.''
