Ex MP wants legal action against Ottawa after Kyoto breach
Daniel Turp plans legal challenge against Conservative government
CBC News
Posted: Jan 4, 2012 6:49 PM ET
Last Updated: Jan 4, 2012 7:04 PM ET
Former Bloc MP Daniel Turp says he plans to take legal action against Ottawa for withdrawing from the Kyoto Protocol. (CBC)
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A former Quebec politician is planning legal action against the Conservative government for pulling out of the Kyoto Protocol, calling the move unconstitutional.
Daniel Turp, a former Parti Québécois MNA and Bloc MP, said he is going to ask the federal court to block Ottawa's controversial decision, and is calling on Canadians to join his legal campaign.
"It's not abiding by the law, or the law on the books," said Turp, referring to the Kyoto Implementation Act passed by the House of Commons in 2007.
Turp, who now teaches international and constitutional law at the University of Montreal, launched an online petition for Canadians to support his plan because he believes "citizens should have a voice."
Turp isn't the first to accuse the Conservative government of breaking federal law over its Kyoto decision.
In December, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May accused Prime Minister Stephen Harper of flouting Canada's international commitments by withdrawing from the greenhouse gas emissions treaty.
After attending the UN climate change conference in South Africa last month, Environment Minister Peter Kent announced that Canada was pulling out of Kyoto because of the state of the economy.
The Durban, South Africa, conference concluded with countries agreeing to launch a new round of talks on a different climate change accord.
A spokesperson from Environment Canada told CBC News that the government intends to repeal the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act.
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