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Ottawa polishes environmental image to save Keystone XL project

Can Canadian polish its environmental image in time to save the Keystone XL pipeline development?

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird appears to think so, as he is now touting our country as leader in addressing climate change.

With massive protests being held in Washington to oppose the massive pipeline deal, which would see Alberta bitumen channeled all the way to Texas, the cross-border project faces an image issue that could derail the whole affair.

[ Political Points: Environmentalists prep for ‘biggest rally in U.S. history’ ]

After a similar protest last year, U.S. President Barack Obama stepped back from supporting the project and left the decision until after the presidential election.

Now into his second term, Obama has yet to tip his hand on the issue. But a decision is coming, and a significant factor will be what Obama perceives the impact will be on his environmental credibility.

Enter Canada, the responsible leader on climate change. Baird said the U.S. should be following our lead on the environment, saying Canada could teach them some lessons on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"We're the only country in the world that's committed to getting out of the dirty coal electricity generation business," Baird told the Canadian Press.

"These are real meaningful steps that will either meet or even exceed the work that's been done thus far in the United States."

Baird was responding to remarks made by U.S. Ambassador David Jacobson, who said Obama's state-of-the-union remarks on climate change should also be considered a challenge to Canada.

Ottawa has long said it was committed to matching U.S. protocols, which makes it interesting that Baird is now saying Canada is driving the lead car.

[ More Brew: Science journal touts Keystone XL as lesser of two evils ]

Baird's claim to being the eco-friendly government received swift rebuttal, however.

Greenpeace Canada took umbrage, telling the Canadian Press that Baird does not deserve credit for Ontario's decision to step away from coal power.

"John Baird shouldn't try to take credit for Ontario's phase out of coal-fired electricity, although environmentalists would welcome federal assistance in making progress in other provinces," Keith Stewart told the newsgroup.

"The reality, however, is that the federal coal regulations delay any serious action until after 2025."

Interim Liberal Leader Bob Rae also took a shot at Baird's comment, pointing to the death of former Liberal finance minister Ralph Goodale's environmentally friendly 2005 budget, when the Harper Conservatives first took power.

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, meantime, joined Baird in questioning Jacobson's message to Canada, saying he sent the ambassador a letter to seek clarification.

Wall told CTV News that Canada is on the right track environmentally but needs to do a better job getting the message out.

He told CTV Question Period:

Now B.C. has a (carbon price) tax, we have our greenhouse gas emissions legislation, we will develop our own fund and levy for those who are emitting beyond limits... I think it is up to us to get the message out that, frankly, it’s not Canada that needs to catch up to the United States in this regard. It’s the other way around.

Consider Baird's comments the start of that missive. Expect it to continue right up to the point of antagonizing the Obama administration.

And no further.