Layton 'disappointed' after climate change meeting

NDP Leader Jack Laytonsaid he wasdisappointed aftermeeting with the prime ministerabout the NDP plan to dealwith climate change,and hasnot ruled out introducing a no-confidence motion to topple the government.

Layton, who met with Stephen Harper Tuesday afternoon, said he wasn't convinced the prime minister understood the urgency of the situation.

"We must take action quickly and that's what I told him,"Layton said.

Declaring that the Tories' clean air act is "dead in the water," Layton introduceda private member's bill in the House of Commons Tuesdaysetting specific, science-based targets to meet climate change goals.

When asked by reporters if he would introduce a no-confidence motion on the party's Opposition day Thursday over the issue, Layton replied: "We have not ruled anything out at this time."

The NDPis expected to put a number of motions on the order paper Tuesday evening, including at least one no-confidence motion,NDP sources have told CBC News.

The next day, theparty is expected to announce which of those motions it will propose to the House.

Doubt about Liberals

If the no-confidence motion passed,the government would be defeated and the path would likely be cleared for a new election. But many doubt the Liberals would agree to back the motion, as they are still in the process of picking a new leader for their party.

All threeopposition parties in the House ofCommons have said they will vote againstHarper's cleanairact, meaning it has no chance of becoming law in the current minority Parliament.

The proposed legislation would begin regulatingsmog levels by 2010 and looks tocut greenhouse gas emissionsin half by 2050.

But opposition MPs and environmentalists have slammed theproposed act, saying it does nothing to immediately tackle the problems ofpollution and greenhouse gases.

UnderLayton's proposal, the government would have to prepare a plan with targets every five years and put regulations in place within 12 years.

There would also be a legislated commitment to an 80 per cent reduction in Canadian greenhouse gases from 1990 levels by 2050.