Harper on Kyoto: "This government has no intention of adopting measures that would be harmful to the Canadian economy and to jobs."

Kyoto - on its deathbed in Canada.

CTV News has the story:

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper says it is constitutionally impossible for the government to comply with a newly passed law requiring Canada to respect its emissions-cutting commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.

Harper's remarks set the stage for a summer debate, and possibly a court challenge, over whether the government is flouting the will of Parliament.

The private members' bill, introduced by Liberal MP Pablo Rodriguez, gives the government 60 days toprepare a climate plan with measures to ensure that Canada meet its obligations under the Kyoto treaty. These include a six per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2012.

Speaking shortly after the bill received royal assent, Harper suggested the bill is invalid because it is not a money bill, yet would involve large expenditures.

"There are strict constitutional limits which decide what you can do with such a bill," he said. "It could impose enormous costs on the Canadian government or on the economy. It's impossible constitutionally.

"This government has no intention of adopting measures that would be harmful to the Canadian economy and to jobs."

- Garry J. Wise, Toronto

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