News release

Minister Calls for Clear Path on Kyoto

Energy (June 2002 - July 2018)

Energy Minister Gordon Balser is urging the federal government to put together a clear plan to address the Kyoto protocol before meeting with provincial ministers of energy and environment.

The joint meeting of federal and provincial ministers scheduled for Halifax on Oct. 21 has been postponed until Oct. 28, leaving little time for necessary consultation on the plan.

"It's obvious that the plan is still on the drawing board and there's no clear understanding on what Ottawa intends to achieve through ratification," the minister said. "The initial analysis falls short of the Kyoto targets and relies on export credits than are unlikely to be approved by other countries. Ottawa still doesn't have a real plan."

In 2001, the province released Nova Scotia's energy strategy, which states the government's resolve "to work with federal, provincial and territorial governments to arrive at a Canadian solution that meets our needs and is shared fairly across the country."

"There's no doubt that Nova Scotians are concerned about climate change and want to do their part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions," said Mr. Balser. "We've made a commitment to Nova Scotians on climate change in our energy strategy and we are ready to work together with all Canadians as we address this global issue. To do that, we need time to actually review the plan and determine its impact on Nova Scotians."

Mr. Balser also says the federal government should clarify what it means by ratification.

"Regardless of the outcome of the ratification decision, Ottawa must ensure that their plan brings real reductions in emissions and that all provinces and territories are treated fairly," he said. "No one region should bear an unreasonable burden for our national response to the climate change issue."

For more information on Nova Scotia's energy strategy, visit the Department of Energy Web site, at www.gov.ns.ca/energy .