Updated: Thu Oct. 11 2007 20:05:35

CTV.ca News

Liberal MP David McGuinty told CTV Newsnet Thursday that the Conservatives are "playing games" with next week's throne speech.

The comments follow a Canadian Press report that the Tories have drafted a throne speech that could force the Liberal Party to abandon its support for the Kyoto Accord or call an election.

CP says that Prime Minister Stephen Harper believes the Liberals are so desperate not to go to the polls they would rather accept a throne speech that states Kyoto targets can't be met rather than trigger a election. The throne speech is a confidence motion that would force an election if voted down.

McGuinty, the Liberal environment critic, says he doesn't know what will be in the speech, but that he has heard that the prime minister may try to force Canada to abandon Kyoto altogether.

"We have heard rumours that the prime minister is going to try to use the throne speech to take this country outside of the Kyoto Treaty," said McGuinty.

"We would be the only one of 168 countries to unilaterally rip ourselves out of the treaty after having signed it."

Some Liberals have rejected the government's plans to deal with the environment and accuse them of using the throne speech to take away public attention from the issue.

"We simply cannot believe all of this effort and all of these games being played by the prime minister. We're just scratching our heads and saying why isn't he moving forward in a positive way to protect the environment for Canadians as opposed to playing these procedural games? I think most Canadians are getting very, very tired of this," said McGuinty.

But if the Tories move away from Canada's Kyoto obligations, Liberal Leader Stephane Dion will be placed in a tough political position. He could face ridicule if he votes for such a throne speech because of his party's well-publicized support of the accord.

But there are also reports that the Liberals may find a way to oppose the speech or elements of it without forcing the government to fall.

McGuinty did not comment on the speculation, but he said the Liberals are exploring several options to deal with potential outcomes from the speech.

Please Add Comments

Etienne Gilson
Just today I attended a conference with Mark Jaccard of Simon Fraser University and during it he laughed at the suggestion that Kyoto is attainable and called the move by the Liberals/NDP/Bloc to force the government to meet it's Kyoto requirements "nothing but politicking."

I am not too certain that an election is in anyone's interest, but the political left have truly boxed themselves in. It is only a shame that so many Canadians still suffer from the dillusion that these parties actually espouse possible platforms. "There are no rules of architecture for castles in the sky" Chesterton once said.

The Ghost
Let's call Kyoto what it really was. An effort to stagnate Western economic development allowing the European Union time to advance. That is why Angela Merkel is pushing it so hard and her vision of the world. Dion is a Chirac puppet.

JS
We will now see if Stephane Dion is a man or a mouse. Will he be a man and do what he says, or will he squeek into a corner? The Liberals are in such disarray. Very smart move by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The Liberals don't want an election.

noel
With respect, I believe every Canadian knew and has known Kyoto was not and is not attainable. It never was.The Liberal government knew this all along.So does and did Mr Dion he is not a stupid man,after signing onto Kyoto alot of time passed and Canada failed in doing anything.

Jay
I completely agree.. Kyoto is not possible and the Liberals attempt to place the failure of an accord they signed onto and did nothing about has also failed. Stephen Harper is the only one who has been honest with Canadians about what the facts are. The only problem is the Canadian public which seems to base its opinion on hype and emotion rather than the truth. Keep up the good work Harper you have my vote.

Charles
On April 29, 1998, with the Liberal Party in power, Canada signed the Kyoto Protocol. For four years since then, Canada under the Liberal Party did practically nothing.

Jeff
Regardless of whether or not Kyoto is attainable or not doesn't matter. The principles behind it are what is important. Canada and Canadians must step up to the plate and do what is right, not for our own children and grandchildren but for ourselves; here is why. I have farmed in Southern Ontario for 30 years. I also have a river running through the farm. Never, and I mean never, in 30 years has the river dried up to nothing. Not a drop. The naysayers of the science are fools, the evendence is becoming overwhelming with every passing day. We don't have time to talk politics.

Phil
I will concede Kyoto is probably not attainable given that it is now the final hour and the task is larger now than it was 10 or even 2 years ago. The problem is a Conservative gov't that has made no measureable progress and denies a problem even exists. They are as green as a chameleon...they will change colours as soon as they have a chance.

RW
Canadians are so ignorant about Europe, and Germany in particular as to the support of the population for Kyoto and beyond Kyoto, that makes me wonder if they will ever "Get It". It makes no difference what someone thinks about Kyoto in Timbucktoo (Canada), its here and its happening - GET USED TO IT!

Gordie
I am hoping that a vote for the throne speech by the Liberals will put this issue of Kyoto to bed.

Cam
Both the Liberal and Conservatives have made Kyoto a political joke. I believe that we should clean up the environment but not give money to third work countries that cannot run accountable governments even by our standards.

Chris Foley
Kyoto is attainable, but drastic measures need to be taken. It would make for some tough times, but our children will thank us for making the right choice.

John
Kyoto was bad for Canada. Even if Canada did meet it's commitment, it would have had absolutely no effect on Global Warming. The problem is a worldwide issue and until all nations recognise this it will never be solved. perhaps it is time for Canada to withdraw and show leadership in obtaining something that benefits the world.

Dick Varley
Stephen Harper has shown that he is a realist. With regard to the environment he has recognized the problem; has commenced programs that will give increasing relief to the problem and is saying that the Kyoto commitment is impossible to attain. The opposition parties attempt to discredit this approach but would not dare to implement that of which they speak because they know they would virtually destroy our economy and the related quality of life as we know it.