Harper follows Obama to Copenhagen meeting

Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrives in Trinidad and Tobago for the Commonwealth climate conference after he made a surprise announcement that he will be attending a UN conference on climate change taking place in Copenhagen after all.

CTV Montreal: Michael Ignatieff touts environmental plan in Quebec city

The Federal Liberal leader is promoting a plan to improve the economy by investing in the environment. John Grant was at Thursday's speech at the University of Laval.

Power Play: John Drexage, IISD

An environmental analyst talks about Stephen Harper's decision to attend a major meeting on climate change that is taking place in Copenhagen.

Watch: See all Videos in the Player

A A | Email This Email | Print | Comments (60) Tweet

Prime Minister Stephen Harper waves as he leaves Ottawa, Ont. to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009. (Sean Kilpatrick / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

View Larger Image

CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Thu. Nov. 26 2009 9:42 PM ET

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he will attend a major meeting on climate change in Copenhagen next month after all, although he has downplayed the possibility of a global deal on climate change.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office made the announcement on Thursday, a day after U.S. President Barack Obama said he would attend the climate change meeting.

Harper spokesperson Dimitri Soudas said the prime minister would attend the conference because a "critical mass" of leaders would now be attending.

Originally Harper had designated Environment Minister Jim Prentice to head the Canadian delegation. And as recently as Wednesday, the prime minister said he would not be travelling to the Danish capital.

But CTV's Roger Smith, who is traveling with Harper to a conference of Commonwealth states in Trinidad and Tobago, said the growing number of national leaders who plan to attend the Copenhagen meeting had made it politically unfeasible for the prime minister to stay away.

"I think the calculation here is that if 65 other leaders including the American president are going to Copenhagen, it wouldn't be wise for the prime minister to stay home," Smith told CTV News Channel Smith by phone from Harper's plane.

"Even if there's no deal he can at least say he went and took part in the negotiations," he said.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff mocked Harper's about face.

"What a coincidence," Ignatieff said in Quebec City. "He's been dragged there by the decision of the president to go there."

Obama will attend the third day of the Dec. 7-18 conference. It is not clear when Harper will attend.

Harper has "been very clear that he will go to Copenhagen, that he will participate in Copenhagen. The exact time at which he will be participating hasn't yet been determined," Prentice said.

Politicians from around the world are scheduled to meet in the Danish capital from Dec. 6 to 18 to try to piece together a new climate-change agreement. The Kyoto Protocol is due to expire in 2012. It's not clear what portion of the two-week gathering Harper will attend.

Canada has become the target of international criticism for going back on its Kyoto commitments, and for refusing to sign a new agreement unless it includes commitments for developing nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

That position has dimmed hopes that developed and developing countries will be able to achieve consensus on climate-change in Copenhagen.

The timing of Harper's announcement may help temper criticism Canada may face at the Commonwealth meeting Harper is traveling to, Smith said. Many Caribbean countries fear being swamped by rising sea levels that global warming is expected to cause.

With files from The Canadian Press

Comments are now closed for this story

J in W'burg
said
0 0

So what exactly has this Harper guy done for Canada? Save the environment (irrespective of whether climate change/global warming is true)? No - he has done nothing but make sure polluters do not have to change. Save the economy? No - it is the resilience of the Canadian people and not a politician/political party that keeps us afloat. Increase our military effectiveness? No - I miss the days when we used to fight useful wars...back in the 1940s! Now it's just a waste of money.

LDL in ONT
said
0 0

Stephen Harper going to Copenhagen iwithout the U.S., China and India, would be like Mike Wier playing a PGA tour stop without Tiger Woods, Phil Michelson and Sergio Garcia. Even if you contribute to the event, it would be meaningless. Harper Haters please get over your petty need to be chronically negative. If the PM walked on water you'd say it was because he couldn't swim.

Norman in Calgary
said
0 0

Do you means follows Obama on the next flight from Washington. Or is it Harper follows Brown from London or whatever?A better and less biaised headline should be: "World leaders gather in Copenhagen to discuss climate change" or variation "Prime Minister Harper to attend world leaders climate summit in Copenhagen"Report the news objectively and without biais otherwise your just another version of Pravda.

GaryinWpg
said
0 0

The new European President, Herman Von Rompey, who can be seen on Youtube, speaks of a one world government, and how climate change can make that a possibility. Copenhagen is just a forum to speed up that process. Global warming, Cap and Trade it is all a charade, and with the revelation of the CRU's cherry picking of data and numbers to fit their claim of global warming reinforces that it is all about, control. The MSM has dropped the ball big time in this regard.

Jim - North Saanich, BC
said
0 0

Given revelations about the Hadley Centre, a strong voice in the role CO2 emissions and purported global warming, I have to wonder if the basis for calling the Copenhagen Conference is even scientifically sound. With cooked and fraudulent data from a major "scientific centre", one has to ask how widespread this problem is and if we're not being hoodwinked in the extreme by scientific fraudsters?30 years ago, I attended a lecture by the late F. Kenneth Hare, a renowned climatologist, who suggested that virtually all of us present had just lived through a period of great climatic abnormality in that the previous 40 years were notable in that there was virtually no variability in climate worldwide and we were basing entire economies on a very false premise and that 1976 likely marked a date and we might see periodicity return with wider temperature swings and more extremes in weather more in keeping with historical records of the previous 2000 years. There is every indication today Hare was right.As a geologist myself, I can point to sedimentary evidence that tells us the atmospheric loading of CO2 was at least 100 times that of today during the Paleozoic and ocean temperatures were no warmer than we see today in tropical regions. There is far more evidence to support variations in solar input as a driver of climate change than variations in CO2 in spite of what the Suzuki's and Gore's would like us to believe.If good were to come from the Copenhagen Conference, it would be to agree to revisit this issue and the findings of Monckton, Ball and many others who argue otherwise rather than head down a road based on potentially fraudulent assumptions.

DWT BC
said
0 0

I hope he remembers to take along copies of the emails and altered data reports - and inform the proponents of a one world government that Canada will not be participating in the massive transfer of wealth - all based on scam science and scientists more concerned with their funding than the truth. Climategate indeed!

Bruce from the Moose
said
0 0

An agency of the New Zealand government has been cooking the books to create a warming trend where none exists, according to a joint research project by global warming skeptics at the Climate Conversation Group and the New Zealand Climate Science Coalition. The chief cook? Dr. Jim Salinger, considered one of the country's top scientists, who began the graph in the 1980s when he was at the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia in the UK. CRU, of course, has become ground zero of Climategate at Dr. Salinger has maintained close relations with CRU since, as seen in the Climategate emails.What do the uncooked books show? Rather than warming over the last hundred years, New Zealand's temperature has been steady.

rick quinte west
said
0 0

The truth to this story is "follow". Harper is no leader on climate change.

Steve in PEI
said
0 0

Canada is and shall remain a climate change bad guy.Much of the world will suffer increasing destruction from extreme weather, and severe food shortages (long before you have to worry about sea levels rising). Human society as a whole will suffer from climate change, but Canada has everything to gain if climate change models come true and much to lose from measures to combat climate change.Greenhouse gas reductions will reduce demand for our (increasingly dirty) oil and also reduce the prices we can get for our fossil fuels. This will harm Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland.At the same time, Canada stands to be a net winner in terms of increased agricultural output, and in a world where many countries are starving we will be able to get a lot more money for our surplus food. It doesn't matter to us if the increased Canadian and Russian production doesn't even come close to offsetting the losses in the tropics, and if the poorest can't afford our imports.Look at Canada's naked, short-term self-interest and in particular the regions that will benefit or lose the most. Even if the Conservatives weren't in power, Canada would never be a climate change leader. Now look at who is in power.Believe me, the most Canada will do is build a couple of cosmetic windmills. As Canada's basic malevolence on this issue becomes increasingly clear to the world, get ready for the day when Canadians sew US flags onto their backpacks when travelling abroad.

TVic
said
0 0

Stay home Mr. Harper. That 'critical mass' of leaders won't be significantly altered by your presence. You have demonstrated no intention of taking climate change seriously. Canada will continue to be seen as obstructionist in its views and postions. The world needs to move ahead with a strong climate change treaty. Since you refuse to show any leadership, don't stand in the way of progress by others.

Bill
said
0 0

Yes, we are 2% of the bogus myth of global warming...that they have now changed to climate change because the facts are against them. Yes, lets tax ourselves into oblivion so we are not competitive. We are a large country with few people that endures harsh winters. Probably one of the bigger swindles that has been perpetrated on the great unwashed by the pointy head do gooders.

simon
said
0 0

Obama pledges to reduce the US GHG emissions by 17% in 2020 ....... and China by 40%. What about Harper?????He will improve Canada's 1990 emission by 3% in 2020!!!He had better stay home and not attempt to Shame this country any further!!!!!But you and I know that Harper will never let go a good PHOTO OP opportunity !!!

Brad
said
0 0

Do you people still religiously believe that man-made globally warming is anything but a scam? Really?Respectable, thinking people can now stand-up and say "The emperor has no clothes". The scam has been exposed.

Evan in Athabasca
said
0 0

Just because Obama and Chinese leaders go to Denmark does not mean a deal will be reached. Just a grand standing conference for today, nothing for tomorrow. Canada has a fairly small carbon footprint compared to a lot of countries around the globe.

John E
said
0 0

Can we all say "ABOUT FACE!" or should I say two-faced. Your choice.

Rick @ Ottawa
said
0 0

Climategate, Climategate, Climategate. Climate change is a huge fraud.I can't believe how many eco-nuts just keep ignoring the facts. Talk about sheep.

JP LEvesque
said
0 0

MR Harper- Please stay home - you made aan idiot of yourself in India, adn when you go to China you will embrass canada more- You defeniatley are coimg to the end of you game.You have to be a Leader and stop hiding the truth from the people and stand up for Canada.We ere well respected around the world before you took power, and now we are not rtusted anywhere.

jroc
said
0 0

well well well coincidence that he will attend only after the U.S and China decide to attend...I think so!

Canadian in the Netherlands
said
0 0

Obama needs somebody to hold his suitcase.For you Harper fans, it really doesn't matter if Harper goes or doesn't go, he did such a wonderful job on Canada's reputation that he lost all credibility. Who needs Canada in Copenhagen anyway. Obama will sign for Harper.

Alberta Redneck
said
0 0

I am pleased that the Prime Minister will atend, not because anything long term productive will come out of it, but because, with a number of big players in the room, it is important that somebody speaks up for our resource industries (particularly in energy) and make the point that when you build a modern society next door to the Arctic circle, without the benefit of large geothermal (read Iceland) or warm ocean currents, read (Scandanavia), your per capita consumption of energy is going to be higher. Suzuki and Gore expect Canada to live like this is Tennessee or Vancouver. Bad new boys--when it is minus 40 it takes heat to live. I expect that Mr. Harper will defend that reality...otherwise, most Canadians will be living in Suzuki's back yard or in Uncle Al's guest house.

R NS
said
0 0

Good call Mr Harper.All the lefties who cannot read or refuse to listen to the truth, seem to be blogging today. It would have been useless for little Canada to attend if the big polluters were not in attendance. The fact that our PM stoof his ground on this, might have encourged Obama to attend, ever think of that left wing loonies???

JB
said
0 0

This guy is an idiot and a disgrace to our country , of course he should be there why is this big news. Biggest political clown i have seen . He is getting very close to parity with Bush if you ask me.

Robert
said
0 0

governments, and leaders can meet to talk about ways to make the environment clean, and to reduce climate change, but it might not be perfect, but it would be good. What should of happened is divine control of the earth. There should of been alot of divine intervention in the world to fix some siutations. But that was not the case. Hopefully the meeting will good. peace, bye

Edb
said
0 0

Are all you global warming cultists just ignoring what's been exposed in the so called "climate gate" or are you truly this psychotic?

JB in Ontario
said
0 0

Copenhagen is a good start for talks. It is important for our PM to be there even if other countries like China or the U.S. are not going to be there.Opening discussions are important to have dialogues with polluting countries so some sort of agreement can be made now and for continued dialogue in future meetings. This will set a new course for International cooperation on an important problem.

Christine
said
0 0

Without the big polluters showing up at the table the whole thing would have been a waste of time. Like holding back the tide with a bandaid.

Greg
said
0 0

Why can't Harper have decided on his own, instead of automatically following what Obama is doing. Canada is a sovereign country, we don't always have to wait for the US to act before we act on our own. Harper's decision to attend Copenhagen should have been made long ago based on the importance of acting on the climate file. It is should not have been based on automatically following US policy.

Phil F - Calgary
said
0 0

This conference will just be another "KYOTO" and we all know what a waste of time that was. Let's scrap the whole thing. Or, Prime Minister HARPER could commit to a climate change agreement and then do nothing further. The Liberal Party knows very well how that's done.

Jim McB
said
0 0

The recent allegations of data fixing and poiticians resigning because they wanted cap and trade systems that are ruining economies will have a big impact on the conference.It will be necessary now to determine if there is a problem before billions are wasted following some pipe dream that is enriching the zealots like Gore and Suzuki.The PM's appearance may be of great value because in the fullness of time he will likely be proven to be the most sensible of the leaders because of his focus on "real" pollution and cost effective action.The Liberal announcement today of a cap and trade policy illustrates how far out of step that crowd is. These systems have done nothing to reduce the production of CO2 and consumers get to pay for it in the price of products and again in taxes. Perhaps that is why it appeals to the LPC with their tax and spend agenda. It is the carbon tax disguised as a plan to save the wor....... errr "Liberal Party"

Laurie
said
0 0

I notice there is a certain censorship with regard to comments on global warming particulary with the reference to where people can discover the real scientific facts. This is something to think about as to why this occurs.

GHot Air.
said
0 0

Obama decided to attend even though HARPER had decided not to go....The Chinese Premier decided to attend even though HARPER had decided not to go...Copenhagen will happen WITH or WITHOUT Harper. It makes no difference!!!!I suppose Harper thought that if he stayed Home all the other big leaders would do the same....WRONG.

OttawaMatt
said
0 0

Haper has no vision, the only reason he's going is because the big boys are coming to the table. I am embarrased to have harper at my leader on the international stage.

Will PM Flip Flop make the photo-op?
said
0 0

@Rob,WHO said they weren't already sending delegates? What changed is that the PRESIDENTS announced that they are personally attending. Nothing more than a 'ME-TOO' act so that Harper can try and take advantage of a photo-op (if he doesn't end up in the loo again). Nice to see you refer to Harper by his real moniker, PM Flip Flop.

Mike S.
said
0 0

Why do we have to wait for other countries to do something before we make a decision of our own? It's not even that really...why does the decision of another country make Harper walk straight and fall into line and go against his own judgement? Don't get me wrong I'm glad Canada will be there but let there be no doubt that he does not and won't get anything accomplished. I thought Harper said we were leaders on the world stage. We seem to be following shamefully behind if you ask me.

Mark in TO
said
0 0

It appears Harper is damned if he goes, damned if he doesn't. On the one hand when he decided not to attend (if major polluters weren't going) left-wingers were furious, now that he has decided to go (since major polluters are going) left-wingers.......are STILL furious. I don't understand, why are you still upset?The only conclusion I can make is that you'll hate Harper even if he literally cures cancer.

Think for a sec
said
0 0

As much as I'm sure some people will disagree, Harper is right it that it doesn't make sense to develop any kind of international agreement on emissions unless China and the US are part of it. Any such agreement will be effectively useless and as such a waste of tax payer money. Give the man a chance, he's actually quite intelligent and like most of us, he has a family.

Andr� in Ontario
said
0 0

Harper continues to follow like a lap dog similar to its sheeple. He continues to embarrass Canada & all Canadians. We need to act NOW on climate change not just follow what he believes to be his boss & what he wants Canada to be is the US.

mike
said
0 0

just like a shadow........follows...doesn't lead...

Len
said
0 0

The new "Mr. Dithers" ... who's indecisive now? Harper is now trying to be the Canadian "Obama" to win more votes; if Obama does it, then Harper absolutely must. In the months to come, watch & learn!

In the west
said
0 0

Maybe our PM realizes that without China and the US at the table (among others) there would be no point in attending. Without the decision makers present, how can any binding agreements be made...

Rob
said
0 0

No PM Flip Flop , maybe you are the one that has your brains where your cojones are!. If major polluters like China are not willing to attend , then what is the point to attend. This Prime Minister is right by commiting tochange if bigger polluters change

Andrew
said
0 0

This isn't an about-face: the meeting suddenly became relevant when two major players decided to attend, so Harper decided that Canada should be present after all. This makes perfect sense. Canada has no power to determine when major players will attend so its not fair to use this as an example of Harper being a follower rather than a leader. Harper's policy all along has been that climate change can only be addressed if countries like the US and China are on board. Anything less is just an expensive drop in an enormous bucket.

Lillian
said
0 0

PM (the poster on this board) is exactly correct. Harper has said all along that there wasn't any point in going to Copenhagen if the leaders of countries such as China and the USA were not attending. They are among the leading polluters . The media needs to report things in a factual way not with lies and innuendo.

JB in Calgary
said
0 0

I think this is great, Canada should be part of this. I don't want to turn this into a debate of who did or didn't do what in the past. The bottom line is the system that we have now is not working, and something needs to change. I just hope that this time whatever the agreement is, that it is developed with short effect guidelines that no government can renag on. Every major CO2 emitter should be involved, China, US, Brazil, and Canada, because of our per capita emissions; we not be emitting the most but per capita we are up there. I would also like to see reports made to the public of our progress. Two years ago there was a whole lot of hype but nothing since.

HendersonG
said
0 0

Interesting that Harper wasn't going to attend, refuted the entire process, but now that Obama and China have announced targets and attendance, well, like a lap dog, Harper is on his way. Meanwhile on another story on this site, on a related topic, people are demeaning Ignatieff for addressing the same issue.Hypocrisy is CPC through and through. Is Steve a champion now for GHG reductions or simply a lap dog for leaders of other countries?

Raymond
said
0 0

I agree India and China must do more and only then should Canada do the same.

Raymond
said
0 0

I agree India and China must do more and only then should Canada do the same.

J from SK
said
0 0

Poor Mr. Harper, forced by popular criticism to attend a conference that he will surely disregard as useless and meddling, from the moment he steps off the plane until the moment he steps back in.He's attending, and that's ok. But, is it better that he attend and resist? ...or that the world knew he'd skipped it entirely?

PV
said
0 0

If Harper signs the treaty, all hell will break loose now that informed people know this is nothing more than a scam. We now know that they have "redefined" what the "peer-reviewed literature" is in order to silence anyone who disagrees with them, and that the "peer-reviewed" work is tainted with "tricks" to present false data. The next time some climate change nut tells you to read "peer-reviewed" data on climate change, you can be sure that data is not credible. Read the emails people.

JB in Ontario
said
0 0

I am relieved to learn that our Prime Minister will be attending the Copenhagen meeting. I think it is a very good decision.

Toby
said
0 0

It would be nice if he showed up with a new attitude and a willingness to listen.

PM
said
0 0

It's not an "About Face", he's doing exactly what he said he would do... Show up if and only if the big polluters do the same.Purposely misleading readers with inaccurate headlines is just as bad as lying to them.

Smitherenzes
said
0 0

Looks like Harper was right not to endorse Kyoto. A wealth transfer that had nothing to do with the environment. Now with Climategate and the CRU cover up and misinformation, one can only hope Harper tells the Copenhagen bunch the scam is over. That Canada will not agree to anything that has to do with "climate".

Jason Young
said
0 0

That seams like a huge waste of time and money, only thing ever to come out of Harper mouth is hot air, maybe we should start there if we really want to stop climate change.He will just go and say that until others change, theres no point in us changing. This is not the Canada that I grew up in, this Canada is not proactive, not the leader and most definitely not at the forefront on Global issues. This Canada is now the "Lets wait and see what others do".You want to prove to us your up to the job, show the world we mean business and step out of line and drastically reduce our environmental impact.

Paul West Coast
said
0 0

President Obama decides he is going to Copenhagen, so now Harper does an about-face and decides now to attend so not to loose-face. Our Prime Minister really is a piece of work. He is so unbelievable. Harper doesn't take climate change seriously all he does is obstruct.

Peter Rapsey
said
0 0

Well, well, well! He's getting off his duff on climate change...or is he? Obama is doing the right thing, China is doing the right thing, McGuinty's Ontario just received plaudits from Al Gore on green government, so does this mean that our PM, who does not respect the science that tells us to beware, is thinking of twitching. It is wondrous if this is so.

conductor274
said
0 0

Once again Harper proves he's a follower and not a leader. Only once he learned the other leaders would attend did he consent to show up. The international pressure forced him to do the about face but we shouldn't think for one minute that he'll do anything constructive to help prevent global warming. People like Harper should be forced to stay in Alberta and once they pass on they should be buried in the tar sands where the last dinosaurs were buried.

PM FlipFlop
said
0 0

He has no cojones or brain to actually think for himself but now that he's been outclassed by even the Chinese leader, he realizes what a joke of a pm he looks like with no plan to curtail Canadian emissions other than to now go along with the US 17% reduction figure. Thank you President Obama and who knew I'd say this, thank you President Hu Jintao!

jay, ottawa
said
0 0

He's funny like that.

James
said
0 0

It's too bad it takes commitments from the U.S. and China, before Canada decides to get involved in the climate change negotiations.The commitments from both the Obama administration and from China are welcome news, albeit they fall short of what some other countries are doing. Perhaps if they don't get a binding agreement in Copenhagen, they'll at least get some kind of interim deal, until they come up with a more long-term solution, hopefully next year.David Suzuki might not be thrilled, but a partial victory is better than no victory at all.

Today's Politics Stories

Quebec student strikes, tuition fees, Montreal, Quebec

Most Viewed News Stories

View More News Stories

Most Talked about Stories

It is about time - as a grandparent I have watched our kids (who were allowed to fail although I do remember some nagging on our part) learn, I have watched our children now micro-manage their children. A big part of it is the fact that there are predators out there and an extreme reluctance on the parents part to alllow freedom that might result in the children becoming victims.

Harvey

Parents must learn to stop meddling, author urges

Got something to say? Share on CTV News

Pick your location

Politics -

News Sections

News Programs

Features

Browse: