

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press





VANCOUVER -- NDP leader Tom Mulcair tried to smother a political fire on Sunday caused after a star candidate said much of the oil in Alberta's oil sands might have to remain in the ground.

Toronto Centre candidate Linda McQuaig told a CBC television panel discussion on Friday that curbing oilsands production might be necessary for Canada to meet its environmental targets.

The Conservatives and Liberals pounced on the remarks on Saturday and Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a point of mentioning the issue while speaking to reporters on Sunday.

Mulcair brushed off the flap by repeating his party's position that the NDP supports developing natural resources and creating markets for them as long as there is rigorous environmental review and safeguards are in place.

The NDP leader, who was campaigning in Vancouver on Sunday, tried to turn the spotlight back on Harper by attacking the Conservatives' environmental policies.

He said the governing Conservatives have jeopardized resource development by gutting environmental laws that the public and the environment need.

"The problem we have in Canada with regards to the development of our natural resources and getting new markets for them is called "Stephen Harper," Mulcair said.

He pledged that an NDP government would bring in sustainable development legislation, including a polluter pay system where companies that damage the environment are responsible for cleanup costs.

Environmental assessments would also include an analysis of whether or not the project allows Canada to meet internationally agreed upon targets for greenhouse gas reductions, he added.

"We're in favour of creating markets for our natural resources, we're in favour of developing them. But that has to be done sustainability, and sustainable development is not a slogan, it's something that has to become very real."

Canada's track record on climate change and the environment has been poor, Mulcair said, particularly because it is the only country to have withdrawn from the Kyoto Protocol.

"Canada's reputation is being hurt on the world stage, simply because we've been working consistently against the planet."

Mulcair blamed the country's inaction on climate change on Harper and his government.

"Mr. Harper doesn't believe in fact-based decision making, he believes in decision-based fact making," he said. "He's already decided that he doesn't want to do anything about climate change and he's found every excuse in the book to continue to justify his inaction."