Ceilidh

Michael Zey
futurist3000@aol.com

Friday, April 15, 2005 Page A4

OTTAWA -- Canadian farmers could get federal financing totalling $1-billion for not plowing their fields and adopting other energy-saving practices under the government's Kyoto plan, Environment Minister Stéphane Dion says.

So-called zero-till or low-till farming could qualify for subsidies under a new program to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, as Canada is required to do under the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, Mr. Dion told the House environment committee yesterday.

Farmers could also receive federal money if they use more energy efficient tractors or convert animal waste into fuel for electrical power generation, he said.

The government estimates the farm sector could qualify for $1-billion in financing over the next seven years. The Kyoto plan, which runs until 2012, "will be a new source of revenue for rural areas," Mr. Dion said.

Opposition MPs on the committee are highly skeptical of the program. Bob Mills, Conservative environment critic, said farmers in his home province of Alberta "shouldn't wait for the cheque to arrive in the mail."

In the past, Mr. Mills has said the accord is the worst treaty the country could sign. That hard stand seems to have been modified somewhat, now that a deal is in place. Mr. Mills said the Conservatives would push back the deadlines for reaching gas-reduction targets from 2012 to 2015 or even 2020.

Geoff Norquay, communications director for Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, said yesterday that his party considers the provisions unrealistic. "The Kyoto targets that have been agreed to by Canada are unattainable. . . . What we will propose is a made-in-Canada environmental policy that will emphasize cleaner air and reductions in air pollution," he said.

He added that the government's plan and the targets established would devastate the economy.

However, Mr. Dion said he expects Canada to be cleaner, healthier and more prosperous as a result of the Kyoto plan.

The $10-billion program is intended to cut Canada's emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases associated with climate change by 270-million tonnes a year.

The program will place most of the burden on individuals rather than the large polluters, said NDP environment critic Nathan Cullen, who added that he is disappointed the plan still lacks many specifics despite taking so long to produce.

Mr. Dion acknowledged the plan is still unclear when it comes to regulations needed to make sure heavy industry complies.

Meanwhile, Bloc Québécois MPs said the Liberals are showing favouritism toward western petroleum-producing provinces and Ontario. Heavy industries in those provinces will benefit from subsidies while Quebec industries already using clean sources of energy won't be eligible, Bloc MP Paul Crête said.

Mr. Dion said Quebec already reaps environmental benefits from the fact it has clean hydro power generation.