An election environment

Baird is warning Canadian businesses against participating in carbon trading schemes, forbidding them to participate in the international trading system on their own.

The Liberals are accusing Baird of lying to the world about reversing his stance against international carbon trading regimes.

"Either this government is going to allow Canadian companies to trade in carbon credits or not," said Liberal Environment Critic David McGuinty. "In Canada Mr. Baird says international markets don't work, but in Europe he says we're considering participating in them. What's the truth? "

It seems ironic that the Environment Minister is warning against a green initiative. Is it possible that he is trying to garner the affections of pro-business, anti-Kyoto voters in advent of an election?

According to a new poll published in the Globe and Mail, the Conservatives are heading toward a majority in the next election, sitting eight points ahead of the Liberals.

While a majority of Canadians say they would vote for the new Conservative budget, the NDP and the Liberals say they will vote against it, which means the budget could fall and an election might soon be called.

But the Conservatives' brokerage approach to climate change (appealing to environmentalists by promising action and the pro-business, oil and gas voters by not committing to environmental regulations) has been successful given that 39 per cent of Canadians support the Tories.