Posted on 01/30/2007 7:05:59 PM PST by nypokerface
Prime Minister Stephen Harper once called the Kyoto accord a "socialist scheme" designed to suck money out of rich countries, according to a letter leaked Tuesday by the Liberals.
The letter, posted on the federal Liberal party website, was apparently written by Harper in 2002, when he was leader of the now-defunct Canadian Alliance party.
He was writing to party supporters, asking for money as he prepared to fight then-prime minister Jean Chrétien on the proposed Kyoto accord.
"We're gearing up now for the biggest struggle our party has faced since you entrusted me with the leadership," Harper's letter says.
"I'm talking about the 'battle of Kyoto' — our campaign to block the job-killing, economy-destroying Kyoto accord."
The accord is an international environmental pact that sets targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Canada officially ratified the accord Dec. 17, 2002, under Chrétien's Liberal government. Harper's Conservative government, which took power January 2006, has since been accused of ignoring the accord.
Harper's letter goes on to outline why he's against the agreement.
Accord based on 'contradictory' data: Harper
He writes that it's based on "tentative and contradictory scientific evidence" and it focuses on carbon dioxide, which is "essential to life."
He says Kyoto requires that Canada make significant cuts in emissions, while countries like Russia, India and China face less of a burden.
Under Kyoto, Canada was required to reduce emissions by six per cent by 2012, while economies in transition, like Russia, were allowed to choose different base years.
"Kyoto is essentially a socialist scheme to suck money out of wealth-producing nations," Harper's letter reads.
He said the accord would cripple the oil and gas industries, which are essential to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
He wrote in the letter that he would do everything he could to stop Chrétien from passing the Kyoto agreement.
"We will do everything we can to stop him there, but he might get it passed with the help of the socialists in the NDP and the separatists in the BQ [Bloc Québécois]."
The Prime Minister's Office refused to comment about the letter on the record.
In recent weeks, Harper has spoken strongly about the environment, saying he will dramatically revamp his minority government's much-criticized Clean Air Act.
His comments come as public-opinion polls indicate the environment has become the number one issue among Canadians.
Liberal MP Mark Holland told the Canadian Press on Tuesday that the leaked letter shows that Harper isn't actually committed to climate change.
"Now, suddenly, because he has seen the polls and realized the political opportunism of going green, the prime minister has launched a new campaign — that of trying to convince Canadians that he actually cares about the environment," Holland said.
"But no one is buying it."
The Kyoto Protocol went into effect Feb. 16, 2005, with 141 countries signing on, including every major industrialized country, except the United States, Australia and Monaco.
Go Harper!!
BINGO!!!!
I like Harper's letter talk on the Kyoto Accords.
All Harper is doing is recereating his image like liberals do every 2 weeks or so, except that Harper cycles his "political image " every five years or so. Thew whaccko environmentalists and their dooms day scenarios will soon be a fixture of the past, just like their alcohol prohibiting predecessors in the USA. At least in those days Canadians had enough sense not to beat themselves over their own heads with bottles of Scotch.Canadian culture has obviously gone to the socialsit whacko dogs since then.
Harper is a good man. It will take a lot more than leaked historical correspondence to scandalize a great PM, and a true Canadian Patriot.
Harper 'O8!
Except Kyoto has nothing to do with climate change and won't make a nickle's worth of difference even if all the reductions were met.
Even if, for the sake of argument, man-made global warming is indeed occurring, that would not make Kyoto anymore valid. It was a political attempt to suck power out of the U.S. and its allies under the auspices of environmental protection. If anything, it would have incrased greenhouse gases as companies moved to exempt countries where there no environmental regulations at all.
Canadian Maurice Strong (of Oil-for-Food Scandal fame) was the prime mover behind Kyoto. Nothing further needs to be said.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
He is correct.
It's not everyday I see a Canadian politician that I wish I could vote for in America.
Thanks for posting this.
Notice how the "free traders" use Kyoto to advance their agenda.
Canadians should enjoy their country while they "own" it. By the year 2020, it will be a Muslim country, building forces to invade the northern states of the U.S.
"was apparently written by Harper in 2002"
He was right 5 years ago and even more so now.
There are very few Canadian politicians I would vote for here in America. Harper would make a great Senator. Gen. Rick Hillier , I would vote for , if he entered politics here.
There are few enough US politicians I could vote for at this point also. Hunter from CA is about the only one I see so far.
Well, that's easy enough to change... All that Canada needs to do is plunge into Kyoto as enthusiastically as the Liberals have urged - then, soon enough, the economy will replace the environment as the number one issue among Canadians...
P.M. Harper is exactly right here. Kyoto is socialistic world government by another name and nothing but. I wish Pres. Bush would have said this back in January 2001 as he should have.
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