Cablegate: Ontario Environment Minister Traveling to Montreal

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

011241Z Dec 05

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TORONTO 003133

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

MONTREAL PLEASE PASS USDEL TO COP-11

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PGOV KPAO PREL CA
SUBJECT: Ontario Environment Minister Traveling to Montreal

Ref: Toronto 1697

Sensitive But Unclassified - Protect accordingly.

1. (U) See action request in para 5.

2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Ontario Environment Minister Broten asked
ConGen Toronto to help her set up meetings with U.S.
environmental officials at the COP-11 meetings in Montreal
next week. Post believes it would be useful for a U.S.
official to meet with Broten, who lacks environmental
expertise and whose views may therefore be more amenable to
persuasion, to discuss U.S. environmental protection
efforts. See action request in para 5. END SUMMARY.

3. (U) Ontario Environment Minister Laurel Broten asked
ConGen Toronto to help her set up meetings with key American
delegates representing U.S. states, municipalities, and
businesses at the COP-11 meetings in Montreal. Broten will
arrive in Montreal at about noon on December 6 and will
depart Montreal on December 8 at about 2 PM. Broten will
attend the Leaders Summit the afternoon of December 6.
Senior Policy Advisor Lois Corbett is scheduling
appointments for Broten. Corbett can be reached by e-mail
at Lois.Corbett@ene.gov.on.ca or by phone until December 3
at 416-327-9720 and by cell phone after
December 3 at 416-570-3342.

4. (SBU) Broten, who lacks environmental experience, was
appointed to the post of Environment Minister last summer by
Ontario Premier McGuinty, who has maintained a strong hand
in developing Ontario's environmental policy. The McGuinty
government has politicized the environment by publicly
blaming the U.S. Ohio Valley for Ontario's air quality
problems instead of engaging the U.S. and its own federal
government in a constructive dialogue on the subject and
acknowledging Ontario's contribution to its own problem
(reftel).

5. (SBU) Action request: Post requests Department consider
having a member of the U.S. delegation meet with Minister
Broten in Montreal to discuss cross-border air quality
issues and U.S. climate change policy. We believe it would
be useful to lay down another marker with her that the U.S.
is concerned about the environment, is working hard to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, and
is very interested in dialogue and working with Ontario (and
Canada) on this issue. We believe she could be open to
persuasion and more cooperative consultations with the U.S.
End action request.

6. (U) Environment Minister Laurel Broten's biography
follows:

On October 02, 2003, Laurel Broten was elected to represent
the community of Etobicoke - Lakeshore as their member of
Provincial Parliament. Prior to her election to the Ontario
Provincial Legislature, Broten maintained a successful
practice as a trial lawyer. Furthermore, she has a track
record of strong advocacy in the fight for a vibrant and
healthy community.

Broten is past chair of the Board of the Gatehouse, a
community-funded centre for survivors of child abuse. Under
her leadership as chair, the Gatehouse grew from a local
initiative into an internationally recognized voice on child
abuse prevention, recovery, and victims' rights. As former
chair of the Gatehouse National Committee, her work with
police services and other stakeholders expanded the
Gatehouse services across Canada.

In addition to her professional career, and her involvement
at the Gatehouse, Broten was an active member of the
Etobicoke Rotary, LAMP Community Health Centre Community
Relations Committee, and a spokesperson and member of GASP
(Good Air Safe Power). GASP is a grassroots organization
that worked to phase out coal use at the Lakeview Generating
Facility, the largest source of air pollution in the GTA.
Broten took a leadership role in the Lakeshore Community
Audit Project, a groundbreaking initiative that evaluated
Lakeshore community strengths and needs and produced the
Report Card on the Quality of Life in the Lakeshore. In
this capacity she served on the Report Card steering
committee, facilitated youth focus groups and participated
in economic regeneration initiatives.

Upon her appointment as Parliamentary Assistant to the
Premier, Broten has been tasked with developing meaningful
reforms to address the issues surrounding domestic violence
in Ontario for the McGuinty Government. She has been
working to draft changes in both attitudes and legislation
across the province and has received invaluable
contributions from individuals in all professional sectors
that are affected by this important social issue.

Broten has a B.A. and B.Sc. from McMaster University and a
law degree from the University of Western Ontario. Prior to
entering private practice for a large national firm, Laurel,
who is fluently bilingual, articled at the Supreme Court of
Canada. She has advocated on behalf of clients at all levels
of court and before numerous tribunals and commissions.

Broten and her husband, Paul, live in south Etobicoke. She
recently gave birth to twins.

End biography.

LECROY

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