Canada reneges on emissions targets as tar sands production takes its toll

[SylviaD]

4. Why is anyone surprised by this news?

Anyone who follows Canadian politics knows that they have been ruled by a hard-right Conservative government since 2006. That government is led by right-wing idealogue Stephen Harper, who was once leader of the extreme-right Reform Party which then engineered a Tea Party-like takeover of the more mainstream (in relative terms) Conservatives.

There is an election this year and the excellent New Democrats have been making big inroads. Hopefully things will change.

Under Harper, Canada is a regressive international outlier and disgrace.