Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Thursday that his government will unveil emission targets for major industrial sectors within the coming weeks.
"Canada will for the first time ever create national mandatory emissions targets for green house gases and air pollution across major industrial sectors," Harper said in Montreal.
He was speaking at AMERICANA 2007 -- an International Technology Trade Show and Conference.
"The time for voluntary measures is over, we must act," said Harper. "This plan will... establish targets and timelines that will allow the industry to know exactly what it's supposed to do and when it's supposed to do it."
While some environmentalists say the only way Canada can meet its Kyoto targets is by sending money to other countries to help them reduce emissions, Harper rejected the idea.
He said he wants to build Canada into a clean-energy superpower that also exports clean-air technology.
"This plan will encourage development and the application of Canadian technology... Not by sending money overseas to pay for higher emissions here but by selling 'know-how' overseas to reduce emissions everywhere.
"That's what it means to balance environmental action with economic growth."
Harper blamed the previous Liberal government for setting unrealistic targets that could never be met. He said he wants the new plan to be balanced so that it doesn't harm economic prosperity.
"No population of any country will support an environmental plan that robs them of their jobs and destroys their living standards -- even in the short term," said Harper.
The speech comes as the Tories' Clean Air Act is stalled in the House of Commons.
CTV's Robert Fife said the new plan will be a main indication if Canadians are soon headed for the polls.
"If the Conservative numbers go up from the budget, the last important step before a campaign is on the environment."
With files from The Canadian Press
