Prime Minister Justin Trudeau must explain the terms of his pledge to cap oil and gas emissions, the Commons natural resources committee was told yesterday, says Blacklock’s Reporter..“This proposal is very broad,” testified Colleen Collins, vice-president of the Canada West Foundation..“There will be federal-provincial battles over the cap. There will be battles over measurements, and the validity of the policy itself.”.While at a United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow last November, Trudeau made the announcement..“We will cap oil and gas sector emissions today and ensure they decrease tomorrow,” he said..“That is no small task for a major oil and gas producing country. It is a big step that’s absolutely necessary.”.Collins, however, says the practicality of the plan was not clear..“I do appreciate the language is around the emissions, but it all depends on how the cap is set,” said Collins..“If a cap is set that will allow for additional production in response to oil prices due to a war in the Middle East or in response to increasing process improvements that reduce emissions, then it’s fine. But that’s the challenge.”.Collins questioned whether or not the benefits are “primarily symbolic.”.“One has to ask what is the value of additional legislation that creates even more uncertainty?” she said..Conservative MP Larry Maguire, representing Brandon-Souris, Man. raised concern over the impact of a Canadian cap on global emissions..“If the production cost here in Canada goes up due to whatever new regulations are imposed on them, I fear countries that have a very weak environmental standard will only step up to fill the gap,” said Maguire..Liberal MP James Maloney, representing Etobicoke-Lakeshore, Ont., said the prime minister’s plan was not to be interpreted as targeting the oil and gas industry, but rather greenhouse gas emissions..“That’s a narrative that has to be reinforced over and over and over,” said Maloney..Members of Net Zero Advisory Body, appointed by cabinet, cancelled its scheduled testimony at the natural resources committee Monday..Cabinet appointed the panel last February 25 to “provide the Government of Canada with advice on the best pathways to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.”.Reid Small is a BC-based reporter for the Western Standard.,rsmall@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/reidsmall
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau must explain the terms of his pledge to cap oil and gas emissions, the Commons natural resources committee was told yesterday, says Blacklock’s Reporter..“This proposal is very broad,” testified Colleen Collins, vice-president of the Canada West Foundation..“There will be federal-provincial battles over the cap. There will be battles over measurements, and the validity of the policy itself.”.While at a United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow last November, Trudeau made the announcement..“We will cap oil and gas sector emissions today and ensure they decrease tomorrow,” he said..“That is no small task for a major oil and gas producing country. It is a big step that’s absolutely necessary.”.Collins, however, says the practicality of the plan was not clear..“I do appreciate the language is around the emissions, but it all depends on how the cap is set,” said Collins..“If a cap is set that will allow for additional production in response to oil prices due to a war in the Middle East or in response to increasing process improvements that reduce emissions, then it’s fine. But that’s the challenge.”.Collins questioned whether or not the benefits are “primarily symbolic.”.“One has to ask what is the value of additional legislation that creates even more uncertainty?” she said..Conservative MP Larry Maguire, representing Brandon-Souris, Man. raised concern over the impact of a Canadian cap on global emissions..“If the production cost here in Canada goes up due to whatever new regulations are imposed on them, I fear countries that have a very weak environmental standard will only step up to fill the gap,” said Maguire..Liberal MP James Maloney, representing Etobicoke-Lakeshore, Ont., said the prime minister’s plan was not to be interpreted as targeting the oil and gas industry, but rather greenhouse gas emissions..“That’s a narrative that has to be reinforced over and over and over,” said Maloney..Members of Net Zero Advisory Body, appointed by cabinet, cancelled its scheduled testimony at the natural resources committee Monday..Cabinet appointed the panel last February 25 to “provide the Government of Canada with advice on the best pathways to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.”.Reid Small is a BC-based reporter for the Western Standard.,rsmall@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/reidsmall
