Prime Minister Stephen Harper says his cabinet shuffle this week is evidence that the government is serious about tackling the long-term environmental issues faced by the nation.
Harper shuffled Rona Ambrose out of her environment portfolio and put former Treasury Board president John Baird in charge of the file -- one of a number of shifts in the cabinet shake-up.
Harper discussed his reasoning during a Sunday appearance on CTV's Question Period, saying Ambrose laid a solid foundation for Baird to build on.
"Well, first of all, let's look at what Minister Ambrose did. We had some important achievements on the management of chemicals, on biofuel initiatives; there are important budget measures on banking of environmentally sensitive land. But I think we are all clear, including Minister Ambrose, that we have to do more. We have to do better."
He said he stepped back after a year, looked at the performance of his cabinet ministers, and decided to "do some fine-tuning -- put some people in areas where maybe they were a little more suited."
Harper said Canada's record on the environment puts it near the back of the pack among developed nations. He said that status has been established over a long period of time, and major efforts are required to correct it.
Harper dismissed suggestions that the previous cabinet appeared mean-spirited and right wing to Canadians, and said the shuffle is about substance, not optics.
Baird, an Ontario MP, is the right person to lead the environmental charge and get things done, he said.
"John has his own communication style. I think that will be effective but I think we are also going to have to deliver results on the policy side.
"John shepherded the Accountability Act through Parliament. He first of all got it drafted through the bureaucracy then he got it through two houses where we are in a minority," Harper said.
"He made some difficult compromises while preserving what the government wanted out of the legislation so he has demonstrated capacity to get things done on a complex file and this will be a big challenge."
On the Kyoto Protocol, Harper said he accepts the science of climate change, but Canada is projected by 2012 to be more than 50 per cent above the emissions reduction targets it set under the agreement.
"We can't tell the Canadian population to heat their home one-third less of the time ... so we've got a major challenge, and we are going to get on with it."
The government's efforts, Harper said, will include emissions targets for industry.
"I don't think we want the taxpayer being the one to clean up air quality. Industry is going to have to do that and meet some realistic targets."
Harper gave credit to NDP Leader Jack Layton for being willing to work with the Conservatives on dealing with climate change. However, he said he didn't know if they could agree on a revised version of the Tories' Clean Air Act.
Baird comments on his new job
Baird himself also appeared on Question Period on Sunday. He said he was still familiarizing himself with the portfolio and reaching out to key players in other parties and outside of government in an effort to build bridges and get advice.
He also said he accepts the science that surrounds global warming and said Canada has to combat the phenomenon. However, he wasn't willing to map out his next steps in relation to Kyoto.
"We have to take real action and we are going to look at what we can do to move the ball forward, he said.
Elizabeth May issues a challenge
One of the leaders Baird reached out to was environmentalist and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May.
Though the two have not met since Baird took on his new portfolio, May said the proof of Baird's good intentions will be in the pudding.
She said he will have to prove himself to be more than the partisan pit-bull he is known as, and will have to get things done.
If he's serious, May said, Baird will push the government to meet the Kyoto targets.
"We have an international treaty to which we are legally bound. And so far, since the Harper government came to
power, we have become an international pariah. ... We are the only Kyoto party at this point that said we are not going to try. Now that's really a stunning thing for a country like Canada to do.
"We can meet Kyoto targets but it will be very difficult," she said.
May didn't give details about what concrete steps Canada could take to meet the targets, however.
