Canada should look to countries like Germany for inspiration in creating a green plan that doesn't take away from the nation's hot economy, environmental advocate David Suzuki said Tuesday.
The environmentalist was in Edmonton Tuesday as the keynote speaker for the 2008 Canadian Urban Forest Conference.
During his presentation, Suzuki slammed Canada for continually shying away from creating a green plan that works.
"What kind of modern country do we have where we don't even have energy plan for the country," he said.
Suzuki, a strong supporter of the Liberals' carbon tax, added other countries are well ahead of Canada in reducing their greenhouse gas output levels.
"Germany is a major economic power, fourth largest economy on the planet, they are going towards completely renewable energy in the next 15 to 20 years, and they are making money," he said.
Meanwhile at an oilsands trade show in Edmonton, the notion of a carbon tax was receiving mixed reactions from attendants.
"We live in a global economy and anything that makes us more competitive benefits the consumer, not a punitive carbon tax," Neil Liknes said.
"This is the bread and butter for a lot of people and any extra costs that get associated their industry also effects them too, but I do believe we have a responsibility to the environment," Crystal Sherris said.
The Liberals are proposing a carbon tax that would be paid based on homeowners' heating fuel, electricity, diesel and aviation fuel usage. The Green Party supports such the plan.
Conservatives oppose the tax, while the New Democrats and the Bloc Quebecois said they'd prefer a cap and trade plan on big polluters who exceed emission caps.
CTV Edmonton election analyst John Brennan said Suzuki's stance could change the minds of voters in this election.
"He is an icon in the environmental movement, and when people see him on TV saying this is a good idea, a lot of people are going to listen to that," he said.
The federal election will run Oct. 14
With a report from CTV Edmonton's Sonia Sunger
