The House of Commons has approved in principle legislation that will allow the government to enforce a requirement that by 2010, Canadian gasoline must contain at least five percent ethanol.
But opposition MPs, while supporting amendments to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act to get it before committee for detailed examination, made it clear they are less than enthused.
Industry boosters may face some tough questioning when the agriculture committee hearings begin.
Liberal environment critic David McGuinty said the five percent target lacks ambition, the government biofuel strategy is incoherent and the emphasis on grain-based fuel production is inappropriate because it raises food prices and produces only a small net benefit in greenhouse gas reduction.
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“I think the government ought to be putting forward a policy where everything possible that can be done to direct the industry toward the next generation of ethanol development (cellulosic) should happen if we really want the environmental benefits without as many drawbacks,” he said in the Commons debate. McGuinty’s Ottawa riding is the home of the Iogen Corp. pilot plant for cellulosic production.
New Democrat Alex Atamanenko said environmental benefits from corn-based ethanol production are questionable because of the fertilizer, fuel and other emissions that are generated from production, transportation and refining of the crop.
He also worried that taxpayer dollars will subsidize an industry that will be controlled by big business rather than farmers.
“Today, the reality is that big agriculture, big oil and big biotech are in the biofuel driver’s seat,” said the British Columbia MP.
The Green Party, while not represented in the parliamentary debate, also is on record questioning the logic of supporting grain-based biofuel production.
Last week, government speakers dismissed the negative talk.
Agriculture minister Gerry Ritz kicked off the debate Jan. 30 with some expansive claims.
“The amendments are starting a job that will lead our nation and perhaps the world into an era of greater environmental sustainability,” he said.
Canada is the world’s fifth largest energy producer from oil, gas, uranium and electricity, he said.
“With the government’s actions today, we are on our way to becoming a clean energy superpower, adding biofuel to that list.”
Ritz said Canada is a late bloomer and countries including the United States and Brazil “are light years ahead of us in getting this done.”
But when the five percent biofuel content regulation takes effect in 2010 with a two percent biodiesel requirement by 2012, Canada will catch up, he said.
“Reaching these targets will be the equivalent of taking almost one million cars off the road.”
McGuinty scoffed at the claim, arguing that a 10 percent target should be the minimum.
