Hurt by public criticism of its environmental policy and preparing for a likely early-2007 election, Canada's government made sweeping changes to its cabinet on Thursday, making the environment a top priority. “We've clearly determined we need to do more on the environment,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper told reporters after changing seven cabinet positions and adding six junior cabinet posts. Harper kept Finance Minister Jim Flaherty but replaced Environment Minister Rona Ambrose with John Baird. Abrose, who has faced widespread criticism for what are considered weak plans to control greenhouse gas emissions and for getting facts wrong, was reassigned to be minister of intergovernmental affairs. As new environment minister, Baird is expected to put the Conservatives back on the offensive on environmental issues by blaming the Liberals for letting emissions rise above targets set by the Kyoto protocol. “Canada has perhaps the worst record of any developed country in the world,” Harper said. “We have a lot of work to do, and this is not an easy assignment.” Trade Minister David Emerson, who negotiated an end to Canada's long-running softwood-lumber dispute with the United States, will keep his job, as will Foreign Minister Peter MacKay.
