Layton 'disappointed' after climate change meeting

Last Updated: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 | 9:15 PM ET

CBC News

NDP Leader Jack Layton said he was disappointed after meeting with the prime minister about the NDP plan to deal with climate change, and has not ruled out introducing a no-confidence motion to topple the government.

Layton, who met with Stephen Harper Tuesday afternoon, said he wasn't convinced the prime minister understood the urgency of the situation.

'We have not ruled anything out at this time,' said NDP Leader Jack Layton on Tuesday.
(Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press)

"We must take action quickly and that's what I told him," Layton said.

Declaring that the Tories' clean air act is "dead in the water," Layton introduced a private member's bill in the House of Commons Tuesday setting specific, science-based targets to meet climate change goals.

When asked by reporters if he would introduce a no-confidence motion on the party's Opposition day Thursday over the issue, Layton replied: "We have not ruled anything out at this time."

The NDP is expected to put a number of motions on the order paper Tuesday evening, including at least one no-confidence motion, NDP sources have told CBC News.

The next day, the party is expected to announce which of those motions it will propose to the House.

Doubt about Liberals

If the no-confidence motion passed, the government would be defeated and the path would likely be cleared for a new election. But many doubt the Liberals would agree to back the motion, as they are still in the process of picking a new leader for their party.

All three opposition parties in the House of Commons have said they will vote against Harper's clean air act, meaning it has no chance of becoming law in the current minority Parliament.

The proposed legislation would begin regulating smog levels by 2010 and looks to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050. 

But opposition MPs and environmentalists have slammed the proposed act, saying it does nothing to immediately tackle the problems of pollution and greenhouse gases.

Under Layton's proposal, the government would have to prepare a plan with targets every five years and put regulations in place within 12 years.

There would also be a legislated commitment to an 80 per cent reduction in Canadian greenhouse gases from 1990 levels by 2050.