Ambrose feels the heat as blunders pile up

Critics heap scorn on rookie minister leading sensitive climate-change file.

She catapulted straight into a prominent cabinet spot over more experienced Albertans like Diane Ablonczy and she’s graced magazine covers as the fresh face of the new Harper government.
But 10 months into the job, Rona Ambrose finds critics are seizing on the number of mistakes the rookie Environment Minister continues to make as the lead minister on the climate-change file.
“I’m astonished that once again Madame Ambrose has come before the environment committee contradicting herself, saying things that are blatantly untrue. And the question is does she know they’re untrue as she said them? ” said Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, who was in the audience yesterday as the minister got another rough ride from opposition MPs.
Ms. Ambrose was scorned by MPs for insisting repeatedly that Canada had no unpaid debts to the international Kyoto system, even though MPs said United Nations documents show that — at $1.5-million — Canada owes more than any other country.
Eventually Ms. Ambrose’s assistant deputy minister, David McGovern, came to the table and confirmed that in fact the year-old debt has not been paid.