WINNIPEG: The Canadian Taxpayer's Federation (CTF) is calling on the federal government to abandon its billion-dollar Kyoto plan.
"Chretien's Kyoto plan is nothing more than hot air," said CTF Manitoba Director Adrienne Batra. "This is another gun registry fiasco in the making and once again, taxpayers are on the hook to pay all the bills."
"The federal government's latest plan unveils a new level of corporate welfare, government largesse, and bureaucratic red tape. The feds also failed to mention to taxpayers that results from all of these new government programs can't measured," added Batra. "This plan is nothing more than a colossal gift bag of subsidies and grants - at taxpayer's expense."
The government announced the following expenditures aimed at hitting Kyoto targets:
- $100 million to expand ethanol development
- $45 million public awareness program
- $131 million to encourage consumers to choose energy efficient appliances, vehicles, etc
- $302 million for business to cut emissions with existing technology
- $250 million for business to cut emissions with new technologies
- $320 million for partnerships with provinces
Kyoto bills arriving in taxpayer mailboxes
The Kyoto plan will have an immediate impact on taxpayer's bank accounts. Every Canadian household will be required to have an energy efficiency assessment done on their homes if they want to qualify for a rebate.
"This plan confirms the results of a CTF-commissioned study that predicted Kyoto will cost the average Canadian household $2,700 per year," said Batra. "Now that we're finally seeing the plans, our Kyoto cost forecast is looking rather modest."
Waiting for Ottawa to explain how plan will meet targets
The ratification of the protocol means Canada must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent of projected levels or 230 megatonnes. Ottawa did not indicate how these new programs will meet that target.
"This is just the thin edge of the wedge, these changes won't even amount to a chemical fraction of Canada's total requirement," concluded Batra.
Last fall, the CTF delivered 25,000 signed petitions calling for a referendum of the Kyoto protocol.