Tory throne speech to embarrass Liberals over Kyoto: report

Last Updated: Friday, October 12, 2007 | 11:09 AM ET

The Canadian Press

The Conservatives have drafted a throne speech aimed at forcing the Liberal party into a politically embarrassing abandonment of its Kyoto crusade.

Government sources told the Canadian Press that Prime Minister Stephen Harper believes the Liberals are so desperate to avoid an election that they will roll over and accept a throne speech that describes Kyoto climate-change targets as unattainable.

Stephane Dion, seen here serving as Canada's environment minister and UN Climate Change Conference president, in November 2005.
(Ian Barrett/Canadian Press)

It is among several unpalatable options for Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion that the government is considering salting into its blueprint next Tuesday for the new session of Parliament.

The throne speech will have to be put to a confidence vote in the House of Commons that could trigger an election if Dion joins other opposition leaders to defeat it.

The same leader who is such an enthusiastic advocate of the climate-change treaty that he named his dog Kyoto, could face one of two extremely difficult choices.

Dion can allow the policy-setting throne speech to pass and expose himself to taunts about having abandoned his principles by propping up a government that ignores Kyoto.

Or he can vote down the speech and rush into an election at a time when his party is slumping in the polls, quarreling publicly, and struggling to raise money.

Dion has repeatedly demanded the prime minister include four key issues in next Tuesday's throne speech: commit to an end to Canada's combat role in Afghanistan by February 2009, create a greener federal policy, improve the fight against poverty and strengthen the country's industrial sector.