Prime Minister Stephen Harper needs to improve federal policies that protect the environment, not replace one minister with another, say advocacy group representatives.

John Bennett, executive director of the Climate Action Network Canada in Ottawa, said replacing Rona Ambrose with John Baird is a sign that the federal government is not likely to improve its policies on protecting the environment anytime soon, but that it simply wants a stronger voice to deliver its existing plan.

Bennett said that strategy will not likely work because its environmental message doesn't have public support.

"Unless the government is prepared to stand up to big industry in Canada, it doesn't matter who the minister is. I'm not convinced we have seen any change in policy."

In Harper's cabinet shuffle on Thursday, Baird was moved from Treasury Board president to the controversial environment portfolio.

Ambrose has become intergovernmental affairs minister.

Oil and gas industry key players

Bruce Cox, executive director of Greenpeace Canada, said in a statement Thursday that the group hopes the cabinet change is not "purely cosmetic," but marks a shift in the government's environment approach.

"If Stephen Harper wishes to gain the confidence of Canadians on the issue of the environment, it will require a policy shift on climate change and environmental issues generally.

"The first few weeks of this new minister's tenure will be vital," said Cox. 

"By signalling to the international community that Canada remains committed to our Kyoto Protocol commitments, Minister Baird can send a powerful message to Canadians that this government is prepared to take action on the most pressing environmental issue facing our planet."

Bennett said he thinks Baird will not likely make a positive difference. "This is a man who sees environmental regulation as government red tape."

Bennett said the government needs to stand up to the oil and gas industry, and require companies to invest in programs that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"This is the industry where the profits are made. This is where the costs of reducing pollution should be as well," he said.

Advocates rewrite of clean air act

He said next on the agenda should be a complete rewrite of Canada's proposed clean air act introduced last year.

Under the act, the Conservatives would implement regulations to make industries cut air pollutants by 2010. It also sets a new target for cutting overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The bill, which has passed first reading in the House of Commons, has been sent to a special parliamentary committee for further study. Bennett said it should reaffirm Canada's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to levels six per cent below 1990 levels — the target Canada set under the Kyoto Protocol.

Bennett said Ambrose had the thankless task of explaining the bill. He said the problem was not her performance, but the proposed legislation itself, and Canadians want to see the government take real action on climate change.

"I actually don't think Rona Ambrose did a bad job. There was no way that she was going to sell what she was supposed to sell. The message she was sent out to deliver was not acceptable and people were not going to buy it."

He said he thinks the government should also reinstate the funding for environmental programs that it cut when it came to power last January.