Layton challenges the Prime Minister to bring new targets to the House for a debate

OTTAWA - New Democrats on Parliament Hill reacted with dismay to the details of the new environment plans unveiled today by Minister John Baird. NDP Leader Jack Layton was joined by his caucus climate change team
and called for the plan to be brought to the House of Commons for debate.

"This won't get the job done, "said Layton. "With this plan, we fall further behind our international obligations and other countries who are setting real targets and taking real action."

NDP Environment critic Nathan Cullen (Skeena Bulkley Valley) pointed out that the all-party committee, created by the NDP, has produced an environmental plan (Bill C-30 - Clean Air and Climate Change Act) that is far superior. "Our committee turned a bad bill into a breakthrough bill and the government doesn't have the courage to bring it forward. We'll match our absolute targets against Harper's weak intensity-based targets anytime. If the government doesn't like our targets, it should bring theirs to the House for a debate and a vote."

"Liberal inaction is not an excuse for having Canada fall further behind. We need to play catch up and this plan puts us more than 15 years behind schedule," said Cullen.

NDP Energy critic Dennis Bevington (Western Arctic) said that any credible plan needs to be accompanied by real investment in renewable, sustainable, and clean energy. "We must develop a national energy strategy which invests in renewable energy, supports conservation and creates an east west energy grid so Canadians can share clean energy with each other," said Bevington. "This plan falls far short of expectations."