Interviewed on CBC radio's Early Edition on November 21, Environment Minister Berry Penner said he wasn't sure if green house gas (GHG) emissions were measured by Statistics Canada or by the Federal Ministry of the Environment. The correct answer is that both are involved. A full explanation of how greenhouse gases are measured in Canada is available in National Inventory Report: Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks in Canada 1990-2004. For energy, the major contributor (82%) of GHG emissions in 2004, the method for measuring was to use fossil fuel energy-use data from Statistics Canada (57-003) and multiply by a fuel- and technology-specific emission factor. The Inventory Report notes that Statistics Canada's estimates of energy use at a provincial level are not as accurate as its estimates at the national level (that can probably be said about most estimates from Statistics Canada). Similar methods are used to estimate other sources of GHG emissions (i.e. data on the volume of a substance are taken from a Statistics Canada publication and multiplied by an emission factor). That approach can be called a "macro-estimation" as opposed to the "micro-estimates" that are necessary to issue permits on a plant by plant basis as required for "cap and trade" emission controls.

The cap and trade process would create a new industry, based on new government regulations, which would require accredited bodies to measure emissions for emitters that require permits, and other firms to verify the measurements and subsequent emissions. Rick Thorpe, Minister of Small Business and Revenue, is now the minister responsible for "regulatory reform". The regulatory reform website states: "The regulatory reform initiative focuses on achieving a new goal of a 'zero-net' increase in regulation between 2004 and 2008." Perhaps that's another reason why we have to wait a year before the Campbell government announces how it will reach its targets for the reduction of GHG emissions. Introduction of cap and trade GHG emission controls will mark a flip-flop in the Campbell government's commitment to regulatory reform and the elimination of the promise of"zero-net increase" in regulations.

Campbell should reverse several other policies. Health, safety and consumer protection are a few areas that could also benefit from a review of 2001-2008 ideologically driven regulatory reform.

Europe appears to have embraced the change needed to meet the Kyoto targets. Campbell has legislated bold targets to start BC in the direction of major GHG reductions, but there has been virtually no public discussion of what that will mean for most British Columbians. When challenged on how the goals will be met, Environment Minister Penner claimed that two-thirds of the necessary reductions have already been achieved as anyone reading the province's energy plan should be able to see. That is the energy plan that claims that by 2020 50% of BC Hydro's incremental resource needs will be met through conservation. We can all hope that comes to pass, but in 2007 you can't take that to the bank, especially when we've yet to see any significant change that will contribute to the necessary conservation. Of course, by 2020 Premier Campbell and most of the current MLAs will have retired or been defeated. No one will be able to hold the new bunch accountable for the failed promises of their predecessors, but today's children will pay the price for Campbell's failed promises.