Prime Minister Harper promised in 2006 to reduce Canadian
emissions 20% by 2020 (in 2009 he changed it slightly to 17%). Only two policy
approaches can achieve this: emissions pricing or regulations (or a
combination). But he rejected emissions pricing, whether carbon tax or
cap-and-trade. So this leaves regulations on technologies and fuels, which he
promised. However, he has not implemented regulations to achieve his 2020
target, and, according to Canada’s Auditor General, even an immediate aggressive
effort is unlikely to succeed – he only has 7 years left after doing virtually
nothing since making the promise 7 years ago. In any case, he is instead promoting
rapid expansion of the Alberta oil sands, which, according to Environment
Canada, will leave Canadian emissions in 2020 at least 7% above rather than 17%
below their 2006 level.
