As world representatives gather in Warsaw for the UN climate change conference, the Canadian government is urging nations to follow Australia in rejecting greenhouse gas-curbing measures—to the outrage of environmental groups.

“It’s no surprise that Harper is joining Australia’s Prime Minister Abbot in a race to the bottom,” said Jamie Henn of 350.org in an interview with Common Dreams. “Despite their greenwashing attempts, the Harper government is just another member of the carbon cartel.”

In a public statement released this week, the Harper administration heaped praise on Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s newly-introduced legislation to repeal the country’s carbon tax and encouraged others to take heed.

“Canada applauds the decision by Prime Minister Abbott to introduce legislation to repeal Australia’s carbon tax,” reads the statement, released by Paul Calandra, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, on behalf of the government. “The Australian Prime Minister’s decision will be noticed around the world and sends an important message.”

The statement went on to declare that the Canadian government’s rejection of a carbon tax has allowed it to ‘protect and create’ jobs while bringing greenhouse gas emissions down.

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