Hundreds gathered for a rally in Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square Sunday to push Ottawa to take action on the Kyoto Protocol.

The gathering, one of eight such events across the country, attracted musicians, comedians and local federal politicians looking to attack the Conservative government.

"We have to do it ourselves, get rid of this government so that we can actually ratify the Kyoto accord, which we're all committed to," said Liberal MP Maria Minna, who told the crowd she was there on behalf of Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion.

NDP Leader Jack Layton also took the opportunity to criticize the Tories.

"You have no right to take Canada out of the Kyoto Protocol," said Layton. "That's Canada's signature on that document, not your signature."

'Power by the numbers'

Organized by the non-partisan group Canadians for Kyoto, the event was intended to push the federal government to recommit to fulfilling its Kyoto obligations.

One 17-year-old high school student at the event asked attendees, including Layton, to sign her petition calling on the government to support Kyoto.

Stephanie Ross has sent copies to Toronto high schools and universities across the country, hoping to get enough signatures to change Ottawa's mind.

"It is always power by numbers," said Ross. "I think a lot of people need to start getting [the message] to younger children: Learn how to conserve, how to treat the environment, not to consume too much."

Canada ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 2002. Under the international agreement, the federal government agreed to cut emissions to six per cent below 1990 levels by 2012.

The Conservative government argues the Kyoto targets are unattainable and has instead focused money on a five-year "made-in-Canada" climate change plan.

Parliament recently passed a bill giving the federal government 60 days upon Senate approval to table a detailed plan on how Canada will meet its Kyoto obligations. The government indicated it may simply ignore the law.