OTTAWA — Premiers are confident the advent of new leadership in Ottawa and Alberta will allow Canada to shed its international reputation as an environmental pariah.
Arriving for their first formal meeting with a prime minister in nearly seven years, premiers are praising Justin Trudeau's willingness to take national leadership on the climate change file.
And they're applauding Alberta Premier Rachel Notley for unveiling a climate strategy that includes a hard cap on greenhouse gas emissions from the oilsands, which have been labelled "dirty oil" by international critics, including U.S. President Barack Obama and become a symbol of Canada's alleged environmental neglect.
British Columbia Premier Christy Clark says Canada has unfairly had a black eye on environmental issues for a long time, with the focus on the oilsands obscuring measures provinces have been taking to combat climate change.
But she hopes the country's reputation for sound environmental stewardship will be restored now that Trudeau intends to provide a strong national voice on the file at next week's United Nations climate summit in Paris.
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard says first ministers need to "rebrand" Canada, making the rest of the world aware that the country is not just a fossil fuel superpower but a leader in renewable energy as well.
