A week or so ago, mention was made about Alberta's opposition to the federal Liberal's plan to implement the Kyoto Protocol without apparent consultation with the provinces. Today, it is British Columbia's turn to comment on the Accord.
On Tuesday, 22 October, Premier Gordon Campbell sent a letter to Prime Minister Jean Chretien about BC's concerns regarding the Kyoto Protocol. In the letter, Campbell highlighted five areas where BC has concern. Each is reproduced below.
One: BC must retain the benefits of its forest carbon sinks. BC's forest sink could be as high as 48 million tonnes of CO2 a year, by far the highest in Canada, and it is estimated that our province alone could account for all of the forest sink credit allotted to Canada under the Kyoto Protocol. As such, if the federal government is intent on using BC's forests to reduce Canada's overall burden, then credit must be provided to the province. Moreover, BC must retain its undiminished management authority and jurisdiction over its forest resources.
Two: The federal government must provide specific credit for our unique energy production situation and our clean energy exports. BC has already invested heavily and wisely in clean, renewable hydroelectric development. We are now looking to other sources to cost-effectively meet new electricity demands, including natural gas. BC's overall emissions from energy production will remain far lower than most other jurisdictions. Moreover, our ability to export clean energy must be recognized for its value in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We must receive fair compensation for the value of our energy production and export.
Three: the federal government must guarantee that BC industry receives credit for early action in reducing emissions and does not bear an unfair burden. Many BC industries including the energy, pulp and paper and smelting sectors have already significantly reduced their emissions, and have invested heavily to improve their energy efficiency. Credit must be given for these actions.
Four: The federal government's national measures must address the climate change priorities and action areas that BC has already identified. There are many areas where positive steps are being taken, including alternative energy development, improved urban transit, energy efficiency measure, and the development of clean energy for remote First Nations. The federal government must work with BC in these and other areas where significant progress can be achieved.
Five: BC must receive co-funding for the clean air, energy efficiency and high-tech measures that our province will advance as part of its own climate change actions. Because BC already has low per capita emissions and the majority of our energy is produced through clean and renewable hydroelectricity, significant reductions to current emission levels will be much more costly and challenging than in other jurisdictions. Any implementation plan must reflect this fact, and include a formula that fully accounts for our higher incremental emission-reduction costs. BC will not support an implementation plan that does not fully and adequately address these concerns. That support is only possible if the federal government produces an implementation plan that includes a comprehensive assessment of potential impacts; and is subject to adequate consultation with the provincial and territorial governments, as well as the public.
The data released by Natural Resources Canada on October 11 suggests that BC will be expected to bear a highly disproportionate share of loss of jobs and economic growth in the scenarios being contemplated by your government. This is unacceptable, especially in light of our large forest sinks and reliance on clean energy. BC cannot and will not bear the burden of the rest of Canada when it comes to climate change.
BC's commitment to addressing climate change is not at issue here. Clearly, we must all do our part and BC has been a leader in this regard. BC has been at the forefront of efforts to deal with climate change. Literally billions [of dollars] have been invested by the people of this province over the past decades to ensure clean energy is part of our economic fabric.
It is essential that the Government of Canada not punish BC citizens and industry today because we had the foresight to act in the past. Further, it is critical to note than any plan to deal with climate change must protect our competitive position in North America, the primary marketplace for our goods and natural resources.
BC is unique, just as Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Albert and Nunavet are too. All of Canada's provinces and territories are unique and can combat climate change in their own ways. And just as our contributions are unique, so too are our interests. We have a responsibility to look after our citizens, our economies, and, of course, our environments.
I urge your government not to impose one universal solution on a country as broad and diverse as Canada. We are indeed the only country in the western hemisphere that is facing the prospect of having to implement significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions as a result of the Kyoto Protocol and our first responsibility must be to our own citizens and the diverse regions that make up our country.
Our province is doing its part to address climate change. We have a history of reliance on clean energy, and it is essential that BC's unique situation be taken into account in development of any federal climate change plan. It is critical that the Government of Canada put forward a fair and reasonable plan immediately.
Clearly, Prime Minister Jean Chretien is under the gun to reassess and revise his hasty unilateral decision to attach Canada's name to the Kyoto Accord. Of course, with 16 months remaining in his mandate, he might just thumb his nose at the intelligent dialogue that Alberta and BC have provided. He might just sink Canada in his haste to show he's boss and he will do things his way, regardless of how much economic injury the country suffers as a result. Note that it is not just BC and Alberta who will suffer if the Kyoto Protocol goes ahead as suggested, it is all of Canada. Recall that 40 per cent of the money spent on services, equipment and machinery in Fort McMurray goes to Ontario and Quebec. Recall, too, Alberta's claim that when a project in Alberta is cancelled, "steelworkers in Hamilton go home."
It is high time that the prime minister of Canada stopped being irksome and listened to the premiers and the cries of outrage that daily comes from across the land.
More on this topic at a later date.
Bob Orrick is a private tutor of English grammar, literature, poetry and Canadian history to off-shore youngsters. His pupils hail from such places as Taiwan, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea and Venezuela. He was previously in international marketing, was a ministerial assistant to a provincial cabinet minister, spent a few years as a reporter then editor of a community newspaper and enjoyed a career in the Royal Canadian Navy.
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