“…Two Environment Committee meetings were scheduled this week, for September 29 and October 1. Members of Parliament were going to return to debating Bill C-311, Canada’s Climate Change Accountability Act.

Unfortunately, all committee meetings were cancelled at the last minute. According to the Clerk of the Environment Committee, “each standing committee will no longer be duly constituted and the committee business is essentially suspended until the election of a new Chair (pursuant to Standing Order 106(1)). 48 hours notice is required for this meeting. Therefore, all ENVI Committee meetings will be cancelled until a notice can be issued for the meeting to elect a new chair.”

The meeting to elect the new chair of the Environment Committee will likely take place next week. Meanwhile, we need to keep up the pressure on Members of Parliament.

If passed, Bill C-311 would ensure that Canada commits to science-based targets for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases – with a 25% reduction from 1990 levels by 2020, and an 80% reduction in emissions by the year 2050. Passing this crucial legislation before the talks in Copenhagen would send a clear message to the world – we can take action to tackle [climate change].”