Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he would respect the passage of a bill that requires the government to meet its commitments to Kyoto, but suggested that there's nothing in the legislation for him to act on.

Despite opposition from the Tories, the private member's bill passed a Wednesday evening House of Commons vote 161-113. It is expected to be passed by the Liberal-dominated Senate.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in the House of Commons on Thursday that he will respect Wednesday's private member's bill requiring the government to meet its' commitments to Kyoto.
(Tom Hanson/Canadian Press)

"Of course, if and when that becomes law, the government would respect it," Harper said in the House of Commons during question period Thursday. 

"I'll just point out that the bill has no plan of action in it; the bill gives the government no authority to spend any money to actually have a plan of action."

Bill C-288 gives the government 60 days following royal assent to table a detailed plan outlining how Canada will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to meet its commitments in the Kyoto Protocol.

Harper appeared to be backing away from previous government suggestions that it would simply ignore the law, and would be prepared to face any resulting lawsuits or even a non-confidence motion that could trigger an election.