The NDP has threatened to try to topple the Tory government, unless Prime Minister Stephen Harper agrees to make major modifications to his climate change plan. NDP Leader Jack Layton said Wednesday he was disappointed after speaking with Mr. Harper Tuesday, and upped the ante after the meeting.
He said he would introduce a confidence vote in the House of Commons on Thursday if the Prime Minister didn't agree to essentially send his Clean Air Act to a parliamentary committee, where the opposition parties could have some input on it. “We're hoping that there will be a further response from Mr. Harper by midday today,” Mr. Layton said in an interview with the CBC Wednesday morning.
EDIT
Mr. Layton's private members bill goes much further than the Tories' controversial Clean Air Act, which looks to set greenhouse-gas reduction target of 45 to 65 per cent of 1990 levels, with absolute reductions beginning in 2020. “We want to see an indication that instead of just endless talk and consultation, which is what he's talking about doing under his proposals, that there would be a willingness to take action in the very short term,” Mr. Layton said. But, toppling the Tory government may prove more difficult than just introducing a confidence vote. They would need the support of at least some of the opposition members.
But, while the Liberals and Bloc Québécois, had formed a common front with the NDP on environmental issues of late, they lashed out at the NDP leader yesterday, accusing of him of backing away from the country's Kyoto commitments. “He never once mentions Kyoto. It does not include any short-term targets. It is a complete abandonment of Kyoto,” said Liberal House leader Ralph Goodale.
EDIT
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061101.wlayton1101/BNStory/Front/home
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
