Clean air bill doesn't go far enough, Inuit leaders say

Canada's proposed clean air act does not go far enough to slow down climate change in the Arctic, the leaders of two Inuit organizations say.

The Conservative bill proposes tocut the country's greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050 and regulate smog levels by 2010.

Inuit Circumpolar Conference (Canada) president Duane Smith says climate change is already happening in the North in a "dramatic way."

Thegovernment proposal will take too long to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Smith said in a news release Thursday.

Ottawa's inaction will sacrifice the Arctic climate and undermine global environmental security, he said.

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Mary Simon says the government needs to do more to tackle climate change and global warming.

She still wants to see a "green plan" that will deal with the larger issues. She also wants to know how the Conservatives plan to deal with the Kyoto agreement.

The government needs to consult the Inuit before forging ahead on the environmental front, she said.

The proposed act will requiresupport fromthe opposition parties, but so far they say they cannot support the legislation as it stands.