Alberta, provinces, to 'do their part' on national climate change policy
Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna says she will meet with the provinces and territories to set Canada's emissions targets within 90 days after the COP21 climate change meeting in Paris.
"Each province is going to have to come up with its own plan and is going to have to do their part," McKenna said after a meeting Wednesday in Edmonton with her Alberta counterpart, Shannon Phillips.
"The really hard work is going to happen after we come back from Paris."
McKenna will head to COP21 in just over a week. She said she trusts Alberta will come up with a credible plan.
"We have to be doing things in an economically sound way while also being focused on reducing emissions."
Phillips said Alberta and the federal government are "on the same page" in a number of areas.
As for Alberta's own climate change policy, Phillips said the province plans to make some announcements in the "coming days."
"We are still considering many of our options and still receiving advice from the panel," she said.
McKenna met with Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson on Wednesday morning. She was scheduled to join a roundtable with industry and non-governmental groups in the afternoon.
She is meeting with environment ministers in provinces and territories this week. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is scheduled to meet with the premiers on Monday.
The COP21 meetings start in Paris on Nov. 30.