The American Power Act: A Canadian Perspective

The guiding principle behind the Harper government's climate change policy is to ensure comparable (though not necessarily identical) efforts with the United States, based on the assessment that "doing more" than the US will cause Canada economic pain for negligible environmental gain, while "doing less" would be environmentally irresponsible and raise the spectre of new American (and European) trade barriers. Critics disagree, asserting that the level and pace of Canadian GHG reductions should be based on "science" without regard to economic consequences.

Consistent with the principle of "comparable efforts", Canada has already aligned its 2020 GHG reduction targets with the American Copenhagen commitment, harmonized vehicle fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks (with heavy trucks to follow), developed a compatible Renewable Fuel Standard, and commenced a bilateral "clean energy dialogue" with the US to develop common smart grid and carbon capture and