www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday March 21, 2007 - 3 Dion gives global warning at ecoSummit By Melanie Hennessey SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Federal Liberal Leader Stephane Dion stopped by Milton Friday to hear from local residents and promote his new plans to put Canada's biggest polluters on a `carbon budget'. The head of the official Opposition joined Halton MP Garth Turner in hosting the Halton ecoSummit at Country Heritage Park -- an event that drew hundreds of residents from across the region. Dion kicked things off by painting a picture of the world today and where the environment is heading. He said currently, there are six billion people on earth, with four billion of those living in the industrialized society. He pointed out that if everyone had the same standard of living and rates of consumption as Canadians, "you would need five planets to make it sustainable." For Dion, the main sign that the planet is in trouble is climate change. So what should be done to change the direction we're headed in? "You give a carbon budget to the nation," Dion said, explaining his plan would be a way to ensure the "big industry" in Canada decreases its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Dion's proposal calls for a `hard cap' on GHG emissions for the three largest industrial emitting sectors -- electricity generation, upstream oil and gas and energy-intensive industries. A company that doesn't stay within its carbon budget would have to pay $20 per excess tonne. The funds would be deposited into a green investment account, which the company could access to initiate green projects once it has cut its emissions. Those that don't reduce their emissions wouldn't get the money back. Instead, it would be invested in green technologies in the province where the company is located. "My plan provides a real and effective approach that will result in significant reductions of carbon emissions and will also act as a catalyst for extensive development of green technologies here in Canada," Dion said. When asked what a carbon budget would mean for the natural gas-fired power plant planned for land near the Halton Hills/Milton border, Dion said he's been told that the facility will already be a very clean one. "We want to create an incentive for clean solutions," he noted. Those in attendance at the ecoSummit also had a chance to share their thoughts with Dion, such as Oakville resident Elka Ruth Enola. "I'd like to see the federal government enact legislation that would severely restrict the sale of water from Canada to any other country," she said. Dion said he fully supports her, noting if he becomes the prime minister, "there will never be any bulk water renewal in Canada." The Liberal leader was also asked if he would introduce legislation to force the auto industry to produce and sell electric vehicles, to which he said yes. Milton resident Paul Tate suggested that to be friendlier to the environment, roads should be built out of concrete instead of asphalt. And former Halton Hills councillor Mike Davis took the opportunity to share his thoughts on public transit -- something he deemed to be a "very political issue" in Halton Hills. `I believe we should be promoting public transit as much as we possibly can," he said. Dion told him that if he comes into power on Parliament Hill, he would be willing to invest a large part of the government's infrastructure money in transit. Turner also accepted questions over the Internet, with one person asking Dion why he didn't propose the carbon budget when he was the minister of the environment. Dion pointed out that he wasn't the leader then and also said he has better ideas today. "I wish I would've invented it three or four years ago," he said. -- Melanie Hennessey can be reached at mhennessey@miltoncanadianchampion.com. LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER GAS CAP: Federal Liberal Leader Stephane Dion discusses his party's plans for a `carbon budget' to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. DéjÀ NU Think you've seen the 2007 MINI before? Not likely... unless you're looking at it from the 10th floor; only the roof is the same. BMW engineers have completely rebuilt it. Still a non-believer? Come in to MINI Oakville... You will believe, especially at last years' price of $25,900. 2454 South Service Road, Oakville 905.469.6220 minioakville.com Specializing Exclusively in Cosmetic Surgery * Face * Breast * Abdomen * Liposuction Dr. Otto Weiglein BSc., MD., FRCSC Certified Plastic Surgeon Inspected Private Facility No Hospital stay CALL NOW! 905 634-5573 520 Locust Street, Burlington www.CosmedicaCanada.com