OTTAWA (AFP) - Canada's opposition on Wednesday accused the government of sabotaging its participation in the Kyoto Protocol, following a UN compliance committee's probing of its implementation in this country.

New Democrats leader Jack Layton said the Conservative government was "compromising" Canada's ability to participate in a global emissions trading market, and was thus causing "irreparable damage" to the environment.

He pointed to an announcement Tuesday that the UN compliance committee was investigating Canada's slow pace in setting up a national registry to keep track of its greenhouse gas activities.

The registry is required to demonstrate Canada's compliance with its 2012 emissions target and to participate in the Kyoto Protocol emissions cap and trade mechanism.

"The government of Canada is in the process of establishing (the registry), and has been in this process for some time," said Prime Minister Stephen Harper, blaming the delay on a previous administration.

Canada had agreed under the international Kyoto Protocol to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to 6.0 percent below 1990 levels by 2012, but emissions have instead increased by more than 35 percent.

Last year, the government outlined a new plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent, based on 2006 levels, by 2020, saying the targets agreed to by the previous administration were unattainable.

If the UN compliance committee rules against Canada on the registry issue, this country would be barred from trading carbon credits globally.

However, since Canada is not currently participating in the trading system, the penalty would be largely symbolic.

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