The opposition accused the Conservatives of misleading Canadians and the world on the climate issue as the G8 summit prepared to convene.
Liberal Leader Stephane Dion opened Wednesday's question period in Parliament by noting a British think tank found the requirement for the oilsands in Alberta are weaker than what exist for GHGs and weaker than the industry's own goals.
"Will the government admit once and for all that this so-called plan is not ambitious, it is not an example for the world, it is a fraud?" he asked.
Conservative House Leader Peter Van Loan said the government's plan has a great deal of support in Europe.
"Our plan results in real reductions. Twenty per cent by 2020, and deeper reductions after that," he said.
Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe noted that the Tories ignore the fact they use a baseline of 2006 while the rest of the world uses 1990.
Since emissions have risen since 1990, the Conservative target is much softer.
The European Union has a target of a 20 per cent cut in emissions below 1990 levels by 2020.
Environmentalists have accused the Tories of intentionally trying to mislead Canadians by referring to a 20 per cent by 2020 cut to make it look like their target is as tough as the European one.
In an analysis of the Tory plan, the Pembina Institute found that even if it works, the Tory plan will leave Canada's emissions two per cent higher than 1990 levels in 2020.
However, the think tank found the plan to be riddled with loopholes, especially ones favouring the oil industry, and doesn't think the 2020 target is achievable.
The Kyoto Protocol, which Canada ratified, called for this country to achieve a cut of six per cent below 1990 levels by 2012. Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a speech Monday that Canada can't achieve that target.
"What kind of credibility would he (Harper) have to be a mediator between the United States and the EU?" Duceppe asked.
"He doesn't even respect the signing of the Kyoto Accord."
The summit
A major part of the G8 summit in Heiligendamm, Germany is the climate change issue.
Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany wants the leaders of the world's seven largest economies plus Russia to agree to cutting GHG levels by 50 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050.
That is designed to keep the global temperature rise below two degrees above pre-industrial levels. That is the point at which scientists say there will be damage but not out-of-control climate change.
U.S. President George W. Bush said Wednesday that his government opposed a firm target.
However, Bush told Merkel he had a "strong desire" to work on GHG cuts beyond 2012, when the Kyoto Protocol expires.
Bush said last week he wants to sponsor talks among the top 15 emitting nations that would conclude in late 2008 (Bush leaves office in early 2009).
The EU has fretted that this approach would undermine the existing UN approach, but Bush said his plan would "fold into" the UN process.
Bush said while he wanted a post-Kyoto agreement on GHG cuts, he also wanted to talk about how to "become more energy independent -- in our case from crude oil from parts of the world where we have got some friends and sometimes we don't have friends."
Canada is expected to make a pitch for its special status as an energy-exporting nation with a growing economy and population.
The Conservatives have been ambiguous on support for the UN approach versus the U.S. one, merely saying they want to bring in the U.S., China and India into an "international protocol."
India and China signed and ratified Kyoto but as developing countries, weren't required to cut emissions in the Kyoto treaty. The Bush administration refused to ratify Kyoto in part because India and China weren't required to make cuts.
The summit concludes Friday.
With files from the Associated Press
