"The current government doesn't want to do anything,"

Environment Canada spokesperson Mark Johnson said in an email to The Hill Times last week that the federal department has been closely watching the U.S. discussions on climate change legislation and regulations.  Prime Minister Stephen Harper's (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) government has pinned its climate change strategy on the backs of the United States.

"It's quite clear that at this point the U.S. Senate is not prepared to proceed with a cap-and-trade in the U.S. on a comprehensive basis, and our policy remains that without a U.S. cap-and-trade policy we are not prepared to implement one in Canada either," ...Prentice (said).  The environment and the economy are inextricably linked across the 49th parallel so both countries must work together and have similar policies to effectively fight climate change, said Mr. Prentice. Otherwise, one country could lose its competitive edge to the other, economically.

Well, not really.  That’s only true if we keep looking to developing the oil sands in a bid to give us such an edge.  As the impact of climate change is felt globally, more countries are facing the reality that something needs to be done to curb emissions, and that developing new technologies with this in mind means big money.  Canada is failing to look ahead at what the world will be demanding as is missing an opportunity to develop and market new technology.

"It sends a strong signal throughout the economy," said ( Ian Bruce, a climate change specialist). "As polluting technology becomes more expensive, green solutions become more affordable. Investments shift toward cleaner and safer sources of energy."  Canada could be a "build-it" nation in finding solutions to the climate change problem, he said. "But we risk losing out on these opportunities if we continue to delay action."

Our anti-science government, however would rather keep sucking up the remains of the very dinosaurs they don’t believe in regardless of longer term effects.  Short sighted as always, and denying what even the layperson knows about the cause and effect of relentlessly pumping carbon dioxide into a closed system, they pretend to give a damn to cater to voters but use excuse after excuse to avoid tackling climate change.  Two years ago, the excuse was why should developed countries do anything unless the Chinese agree to cut emissions?  Can’t be saying that anymore:

While South Korea, the European Union and China set aside upwards of 37.8 per cent of their economic stimulus plans for climate change investment, Canada's plan contained a mere 8.3 per cent, or $2.6-billion U.S. of $31.8-billion US, according to a February 2009 HSBC report.
So now that the Tea Party in the US has succeeded in stalling progress on this issue in the US, the Steve party of Canada is using a new excuse: no point doing anything unless the Americans do.

At the very least, the Steve government could be lobbying the US for change, just as they saw fit to pressure other countries about the seal ban, about allowing asbestos to be sold with no warning labels,  and speaking against the international Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 

Harper's government does not speak out in favour of change because it doesn't want to act on climate change.

"The current government doesn't want to do anything," (Matthew Paterson, a University of Ottawa professor specializing in climate change politics) said. "I think there is a deal of evidence that they're hiding behind the Americans."

And when the US finally decides to act, Harper, if he’s still PM, will come up with yet another excuse not to.  Hell, he’ll probably start sending out his little mouth pieces to lobby other countries against change.  Canada and the world will feel the negative effects of Steve long, long after he is gone.