"Canada Hedges On 2010 Start For Emissions Rules"

"VANCOUVER -- Canada's rules for cutting greenhouse gas emissions may not come into effect by 2010 as had been planned, Environment Minister Jim Prentice said Thursday.

The rules may be ready by next year but the implementation timing will depend on discussions with other countries -- including the United States, Canada's largest trading partner-- for economic competitiveness reasons, Prentice said.

Prentice, speaking to reporters from London, cited a major climate change proposal now before Congress in Washington that sees regulations for different sectors of the US economy beginning to take effect between 2012 and 2016. ...

The Conservative government has pledged to cut Canada's carbon emissions 20 percent from 2006 levels by 2020. In a shift in position last year it also said it would work to develop a North American-wide cap and trade system to limit emissions of greenhouse gasses, blamed for climate change."

Allan Dowd reports for Reuters June 1, 2009.