Canada - Harper Hurriedly Backs Out Of Meeting W. EU Climate Critics - AFP

[hatrack]

Amid global protests calling for urgent action to combat climate change, Prime Minister Stephen Harper canceled a late-November meeting with European leaders critical of Canada's stand on the Kyoto Protocol, Canadian media reported Saturday. A Harper spokeswoman downplayed the reports in The Globe and Mail newspaper and elsewhere, telling AFP that Canada had never confirmed its attendance at the meeting.

Genevieve Desjardins said that after Canada attended an European Union event at mid-year it did not consider another event this soon as necessary. Harper informed Finnish President Matti Vanhanen, who holds the rotating EU presidency, that he would not attend the November 27 meeting in Helsinki, according to media reports. Desjardins however said that Harper telephoned Vanhanen and said Canada likely could take part in an event early next year.

According to the Globe and Mail, the decision was made because a discussion of Kyoto targets was expected to be on the agenda. Europeans have been highly critical of Ottawa on the climate change treaty.

Harper opened the door Wednesday to opposition changes to his proposed Clean Air Act, which was widely criticized by environmentalists over its low targets for cutting greenhouse gases. Harper agreed to send the bill to a parliamentary committee for review after New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton said he might otherwise try to topple the minority Conservative government.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/2006/061104210138.3qus3pa1.html

[rurallib]

1. Wow - Harper the imitation W

How long will he survive? Been almost a year hasn't it?

[BlueManDude]

4. dnp and the libs need to get together

so busy fighting each other the rwers are doing slow damage.

[Harper_is_Bush]

2. He's like Inhofe, just not as stupid. nt

[Dead_Parrot]

3. Inhofe is a tough act to follow.