October 19, 2006

Abstract: - Many adults in Canada are sceptical about their federal government's proposals to help with the environment, according to a poll by Ekos Research Associates published in the Toronto Star. 57 per cent of respondents express moderate confidence in the administration led by Stephen Harper on the issue, while 32 per cent have low confidence.

- Many adults in Canada are sceptical about their federal government's proposals to help with the environment, according to a poll by Ekos Research Associates published in the Toronto Star. 57 per cent of respondents express moderate confidence in the administration led by Stephen Harper on the issue, while 32 per cent have low confidence.

The term global warming refers to an increase of the Earth's average temperature. Some theories say that climate change might be the result of human-generated carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

In 1998, several countries agreed to the Kyoto Protocol, a proposed amendment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The agreement commits nations to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Canada is one of 141 nations to have ratified the revised agreement, which came into effect in February 2005.

During his time in opposition, current prime minister and Conservative leader Stephen Harper criticized the inclusion of funds for the "fatally flawed" Kyoto Protocol in the federal budget. Harper took over as head of government in February.

Earlier this month, Harper announced that his government would "set in motion Canada's first comprehensive and integrated approach to tackle air pollution and greenhouse gases and in doing so deliver better air quality and address climate change."

The proposal will include "intensity-based targets", which call for specific industries to reduce their emissions per unit of production, while not necessarily establishing a national goal.

Liberal environment critic John Godfrey accused Harper of resorting to "ominous weasel words." New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jack Layton expressed concerns, saying, "In Alberta they plan to reduce the intensity of emissions per barrel of oil but the increasing production will allow the barrels to increase three fold."

Polling Data

The Conservative government led by Stephen Harper has pledged to introduce a new environmental agenda to address smog as well as greenhouse gas emissions. They have said that Canada cannot meet the commitments made under the Kyoto Agreement by the previous Liberal government. How confident are you that the government's new plan will come to grips with the environmental problems facing Canada?

High confidence	7%
Moderate confidence	57%
Low confidence	32%
Not sure	4%

Source: Ekos Research Associates / Toronto Star
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,211 Canadian adults, conducted from Oct. 10 to Oct. 12, 2006. Margin of error is 2.8 per cent.