More proof Kyoto is dead in North America.

The Canadian Government continues to provide lip service and not much else when it comes to their 'commitment' to the Kyoto protocol. Canada is the only government which is a signatory to Kyoto in North America.

On the day the Kyoto accord on climate change came into effect, Environment Minister Stephane Dion said there will be national standards for industrial greenhouse gas emitters. But he is prepared to consider differing ways of enforcing them in the case of provinces like Alberta, which is home to some of the country's biggest polluters.

The Canadians announced they will host the International Conference on Climate Change yesterday. To no one's surprise, they'll host it in one of the most European-like locales available - Montreal. It's much easier to announce a large, tourism inducing conference than to announce that "yeah, we're going to punish you for being industrious."

It's a classic case of expressing outward committment while doing absolutely nothing to actually implement. To their credit, the Liberals are probably fully aware that talking about Kyoto is great. Actually doing something about Kyoto is political suicide. Which is why, rather than go after their own industrial polluters, they've chosen to buy their pollution credits from Russia.

Eventually, the charade is just going to end. Hopefully sooner, rather than later.