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Replacement deal for Kyoto needed Climate change caused by rising emissions is a serious environmental challenge facing our planet. Here at home, our government has taken a number of steps to address climate change, including a commitment to reduce emissions by 17% below 2005 levels by 2020. We have invested $4.1 billion in ecoENERGY initiatives, implemented stricter emissions standards for cars and light trucks, and introduced draft emissions standards for the coal sector. However, more needs to be done to meet our 2020 target. Stricter emissions standards for transport trucks and for major industrial emitters will be coming in order to meet our target. As the producer of only 2 per cent of global emissions, Canada alone cannot address climate change. Climate change is a global problem requiring a global solution. That is why we are committed to working toward a new international treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol that will include all major emitters, like the United States, India and China. Last December, Canada 9 ·The IFP· Halton Hills, Tuesday, January 31, 2012 Michael Chong withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol because it does not include major emitters like the United States, China and India, who produce more than 30% of global emissions. We also withdrew because we were unable to meet the target in Kyoto. The previous government had committed to the target but had done little over 13 years to meet the target. When we took office in 2006, we realized that meeting the Kyoto target would have meant the equivalent of removing every car, truck, ATV, tractor, ambulance, police car and vehicle from Canadian roads, or shutting down the entire farming sector or cutting the heat to every home, office, hospital and factory building in Canada. Clearly, this would not work and that is why we exited Kyoto. Medal of Honour awarded Longtime Holy Cross parishioner, Marie Simpson, was recently recognized by Bishop Douglas Crosby of the Hamilton Diocese with the Diocesan Medal of Honour for her years of volunteer service to the parish. The award was presented by Father David Wynen, Pastor of Holy Cross Parish. Simpson recently retired as secretary of Saint Francis of Assisi School in Georgetown. The Diocesan Medal of Honour was established in 1974 to recognize outstanding men and women in the Diocese of Hamilton who work to build up the local church by their volunteer service. Submitted photo However, we do believe that we need to replace Kyoto with a new, legally binding international climate change agreement that includes all major emitters. We believe that the Cancun Agreements (adopted at COP 16 and stemming from the Copenhagen Accord) provide a practical framework to move forward. Furthermore, the signatories to the Cancun Agreements cover three quarters of global emissions, which is double the amount covered by Kyoto. The environmental effects of climate change are real and serious. As your representative in Ottawa, I will continue to push for a new international climate change agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol and continue to advocate for further action to meet our 2020 target. I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions about Canada's role in addressing climate change. You can contact me by phone at (866) 878-5556 or by email at michael.chong@parl. gc.ca --Michael Chong is the MP for Welllington-Halton Hills All Canadian Fashion Event Latest 2012 Designs with Over 80 Styles on Display S a le e n ds S u n d ay 25-50% OFF ALL LEATHER FURNITURE Best Selection of Canadian Made Furniture ... ANYWHERE! CAMBRIDGE SHOWROOM 150 Holiday Inn Dr. | 519-658-9313 HANOVER SHOWROOM 170-3rd St. | 519-364-3800 Family owned since 1949