OTTAWA - A plastic industry multi-millionaire is breaking corporate ranks to spearhead a lobby in favour of the Kyoto climate-change protocol.
Robert Schad, founder and CEO of the Ontario-based Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd., is threatening to quit the powerful Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters industry association, unless it changes its anti-Kyoto stance.
"I think a few people have taken over and have taken this into their own hands. We have never been consulted. And I understand a lot of other people have never been consulted. It seems a special-interest group in the CME is trying to get it their way," Schad said in an interview with the Ottawa Citizen from his office in Bolton, Ont.
The CME -- a powerful association of 2,500 Canadian businesses including giants like Alcan, Noranda and General Motors -- is putting strong pressure on the federal government to back away from the Kyoto accord, which would commit Canada to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by about 20 per cent below current levels.
In a mail-out to members this week, the CME urged industry leaders to send an anti-Kyoto form letter to MPs. The letter says it is not "economically or technically feasible" for businesses to reduce their emissions by even four per cent, as it would cause "serious losses in revenue and jobs."
Schad said he was "very, very disappointed" by the letter and will be phoning other CEOs of companies that belong to the trade association to express his opposition. "We are going to make some phone calls and talk to some people. I think what you have here is that some very vocal ones have painted such a bad picture of Kyoto, and the other ones haven't really had time to look at the details. It's a very vocal group that is trying to override everybody," he said.
Carolyn Conner, director of communications for the CME, said the association's position on Kyoto was based on a resolution by the board of directors. "This position was discussed by our board," she said.
She said the CME wants the government and the public to realize the economic impact of Kyoto. She said she could not comment on Schad's letter as she had not yet seen it.
Schad sent the letter to CME president Perrin Beatty on Friday, urging him to change the trade association's position on the climate change agreement.
Schad is also undertaking a mass mail-out to all CME members to argue the pro-Kyoto position, and is optimistic that other CEOs will join him. He said his company has earned paybacks in savings from the measures it has taken to cut energy consumption and greenhouse gases. Husky manufactures molding machines for the plastics industry. Based in Bolton, Ont., it has 41 sales and service offices around the world and had sales of $640 million in 2001.
"I think we have focused on what it costs. We haven't focused on what it costs if we don't do it. We haven't focused on the savings, such as health, energy savings, all the savings that are associated with Kyoto, and they can be quite substantial," he said.
"I look at this [anti-Kyoto campaign] as a scaremongering approach of certain business groups that will see a reduction in their revenue, like the gas industry or some of the car manufacturers who are afraid that the highly profitable utility vehicles are going to be replaced by energy-efficient smaller cars that are not as profitable. There are very strong interest groups that don't want to see Kyoto."
HUSKY ULTIMATUM
Highlights of a letter sent by Robert Schad, founder and CEO of the Ontario-based Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd., to Perrin Beatty, president and CEO of Canadian Manufactures and Exporters, dated April 5:
"I just received a call from your organization asking me to write a letter to our local MP and MPP opposing Canada's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. In our opinion, this campaign, with its narrow focus on protecting established business interest from any kind of change, is irresponsible and aimed solely at creating fear under the guise of being a 'champion of business rights.'
"Aside from a few naysayers, some with questionable allegiances, the scientific community overwhelmingly agrees that the causes of, and the threats posed by global warming are real.
". . . your position on Kyoto is misguided and your approach to government and the public in this debate is irresponsible. If such actions persist Husky will be forced to resign from the CME. Others would be certain to follow."
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