Yellowknife (Apr 19/06) - A Yellowknife environmental group crippled during recent federal cutbacks to green programs warns the North could be in serious trouble.

Ecology North program co-ordinator Doug Ritchie has seen his group "crippled" by cutbacks in environment funding from the Conservative government. - Andrew Raven/NNSL photo

Unless the Tories develop a workable plan to halt global warming, that is.

The 35-year-old Ecology North lost more than 90 percent of its funding when Stephen Harper's Conservative government axed two enviro-initiatives earlier this year.

The cutbacks came as the Northwest Territories basked in its warmest winter on record - a sign Ottawa is not taking the heating trend seriously, said Doug Ritchie, a program co-ordinator for Ecology North.

"Just when we in the North are feeling the effects of climate change, the Tories say: 'This is too hard. We're giving up,'" Ritchie said last week.

One program that did not survive the chopping block was the much-publicized One-tonne Challenge, which encouraged Canadians to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Scientists believe the fumes - like carbon dioxide - are key ingredients in the warming equation, which could see temperatures in the Arctic rise five degrees within the next century.

Programs like the One-tonne Challenge and measures that target industrial polluters -- who are responsible for three-quarters of greenhouse emissions - could have helped reduce those levels, Ritchie said.

"The only lasting solution (to global warming) is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," he said. "We need to start right away."

Ecology North lost $137,000 when the One-tonne Challenge and another research program were discontinued - money that nearly made up its entire annual budget. The cutbacks meant that the group had to layoff two staff members while Ritchie searches for other sources of funding.

"We're scrambling to stay in business," he said. "It's crippling."

Ecology North is one of the few independent environmental groups in the Northwest Territories and has about 150 members.

Yellowknife city councillor Kevin O'Reilly said it's a significant player in the Northern green scene and lauded the group for spearheading several grass-roots programs.

"It is important to have a community-based environmental organization interested in public education," O'Reilly said Monday.

Ritchie said Ecology North could access smaller pots of federal and territorial cash, but it would be unlikely to match the money from the One-tonne Challenge.

"Just when we were gaining momentum, the rug was pulled from under us," he said.

The cutbacks might not be the last from the Conservative government. The Globe and Mail reported last week that cabinet had signed off on a plan that would see 80 percent of the budget for certain eco-friendly Environment Canada programs slashed. Meanwhile, Harper has not re-affirmed the previous Liberal government's commitment to the Kyoto Protocol.

"The situation on one hand is bleak, but I remain optimistic," Ritchie said. "So many people across the country realize... we need to change right away."

The Conservatives have their own plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which includes a tax credit for public transit users. But Ritchie said there is little evidence that scheme will work.

"I have not seen anything that suggests that will be effective," he said.

Officials from Environment Canada were not immediately available for an interview.