"The David Suzuki Foundation has been calling for the science-based targets set out in Bill C-311," said Dale Marshall, climate change policy analyst with the David Suzuki Foundation. "This Bill would allow Canada to show leadership in this crucial year for international climate change negotiations, when the second phase of the Kyoto Protocol will be negotiated in Copenhagen," added Mr. Marshall.

The Bill requires the Minister of Environment to produce a plan to reach those targets with regular reports to Parliament on progress towards achieving the targets.

The passing of the Act was largely thanks to a Liberal motion, which changed the timing of the vote, moving it up the agenda, allowing more Parliamentarians to be present for this crucial vote. The Bill will now go to Parliament's environment committee to be discussed and amended, then it will be sent back to the House for 3rd reading.

"To put things in perspective, with only 250 days left before the climate talks in Copenhagen, this Bill will make a strong statement to the international community," said Mike Buckthought, National Climate Change Campaigner at Sierra Club Canada.