Prentice defends environmental policies

OTTAWA — Environment Minister Jim Prentice was forced to defend his government’s environmental policies as critics continued to slam the feds for failing to address climate change in the budget.

“If anyone ever wanted evidence the government doesn’t believe in climate change all they need to do is read this budget,” said John Bennett, executive director of Sierra Club Canada. “There’s nothing in here that’ll reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.”

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Green Party Leader Elizabeth May called the budget “a kick in the teeth” to the environment, while NDP Leader Jack Layton expressed concerns about more than $50 million in planned cuts to Environment Canada’s budget.

“If we look at Page 299 (of the budget) there are strategic review savings for Environment Canada identified and laid out here,” Layton said. “That’s why we’re concerned.”

But Prentice dismissed the criticism saying the $50 million in cuts over three years are about efficiency and not policy changes.