Jack Layton and NDP completely rewrite Clean Air Act
Posted by Tyler Kinch on March 29th, 2007
Months ago, tons of Liberal bloggers, and news media were accusing Jack Layton for making an “alliance†with the Conservatives on the Clean Air Act. That was not true back then and it is now clear that it is not true now.
The NDP was the party who had the environment as a top campaign issue during the 2004 and 2006 elections. They were warning Canadians the dangers of global warming way before the Conservatives and Liberals jumped on the bandwagon. And when Jack Layton condemned the original Clean Air Act and was the only party who was willing to fix it, it showed that the NDP is the only party that can be trusted on the environment portfolio.
When Layton asked Harper to setup a committee to amend the Clean Air Act, Liberals were saying it was a deal with the devil. The NDP rose above that, and knew that just opposing everything and not offering solutions was not going to go anywhere. The 29 NDP MPs did what they were elected by Canadians to do, get work done. Without the NDP, the committee to amend the Clean Air Act would not have happened because the Liberals couldn’t swallow their own pride… they wanted only their name on the legislation. But thanks to the Jack Layton and the NDP, the clean air act has been amended. And there will be a much-needed piece of legislation presented to Parliament this year.
The NDP amendments that got adopted today include:
—Short-, medium- and long-term greenhouse gas targets (Instead of the Conservative’s 2050 year target.)
—Earlier deadline for regulating the industrial sector.
—A hard cap on greenhouse gas emissions from big polluters
—Leading and mandatory standards for smog-producing “air contaminantsâ€.
—A cap and trade carbon market.
—Protected gov’t authority to regulate air pollutants and greenhouse gases.
—Effective provincial equivalency rule.
—Authority to designate “significant areas†for environmental protection.
—Programs reviewed annually. (Much needed, to stay on top of things)
—Building retrofit fund.
The only amendment of the NDP’s that didn’t get passed was to eliminate subsidies for the oil and gas sector – The Conservatives, Bloc and Liberals ruled it as out of order.
Of course the Liberals and Conservatives will take credit for these amendments. It shouldn’t matter to me who the credit is given to, as long as something gets accomplished. But I really do think it is important for voters to realize who got the work done, because if the Liberals get in again or if the Conservatives get a maority, don’t expect an overwhelming love for the environment, they’ll be too busy with other interests involving campaign donors.
March 29th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Good post Tyler. It’s about keeping everybody honest and recording that honesty.
March 29th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
All 3 opposition parties can take credit. There were over 50 amendments to this Bill
March 29th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
The only way this process works is if the opposition parties come together. As a “Liberal” blogger I gave Layton credit for his role, and remained CAUTIOUSLY optimistic, because there was opportunity. Having said that, the credit isn’t a partisan affair. I am pleased that Liberals stepped up and offered some serious amendments, the program is basically the same as Dion’s announcements. All the parties played a role today, there is plenty of room in the spotlight. Nathan Cullen was gracious today, acknowledging the JOINT effort, and was unusually focused on the real enemy, Harper. Let’s do the same, when we finally see some unanimity for a change.
March 29th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
You know Steve, you wanted to sound so progressive and conciliatory but couldn’t quite muster it up. Although you “gave Layton credit for his role,” - but made sure it sounded minor with use of role rather than the major player.
Next, you went on to put the liberal stamp all over the complete makeover by stating “the program is basically the same as Dion’s announcement.” I might add here, if it was the NDP amendments, than whose programs was Dion’s really?
Next, you did a back-handed compliment of Nathan Cullen who “was gracious today,” but let it be known this is not the norm, as he is “unusually focused on the real enemy, Harper.”
I love your sense of “some unanimity for change” but as usual its just more of the same. Please spare the lecture. It’s obvious the liberals have a problem focussing on the real enemy, Harper.
March 29th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
I don’t belong to either the Liberals or the NDP. I’m a progressive who wants Stephen Harper stopped.
I think that Scott is right, all three opposition parties can take credit. Layton does deserve credit, but so does Dion. I think the comment that the NDP had difficulty focussing on Harper was valid previously, but less so now. I think the Liberals have been focussed on Harper the entire time, but could be more aggressive.
March 29th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
Steven, I only said it how I saw it. I want Harper stopped too. I have to disagree with the liberals being focussed on Harper the entire time. This is just an example, but just because you might want to think this I see a very different reality.
Courtesy of Dipper Chick http://dipperchick.blogspot.com/2007/03/make-no-mistake-this-was-ndp-victory.html
February 5, 2007 - Michael Ignatieff accuses the NDP of being “engaged in a ‘double game’ by criticizing the Conservatives while working with them to rewrite the government’s legislation.â€
Ignatieff says: “There’s something nauseating going on which Canadians have to notice . . . Layton gets up and pretends to oppose a government that he’s propping up. He’s got to decide what the hell he’s doing here . . . I think (propping up the Tories) is substantially reducing NDP support . . . The problem with the strategy is in Layton’s base. Any NDP voter looking at this is thinking, `Why are these guys letting the Harper government off the hook on the environment?†(Toronto Star)
December 20, 2006 – Newly elected Liberal leader Stephane Dion says “Mr. Layton decided to play the game . . . I told him, at this stage I will play the game, too. (But) I will denounce it; I will denounce it at the same time . . . If I’m able to become the prime minister next spring, I will not continue this fake gesture.” (Toronto Star)
I guess they were out of focus.
March 29th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
You know jan, how’s the view from the ivory tower of pius virtue? Was my comment a “lecture”, well you would know.
“you wanted to sound so progressive”
LOL