The Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper has been accused of “giving George Bush cover” in US effort’s to water the G8 climate change agreement.

Harper has faced criticism for remaining non-committal on whether Canada would support Angela Merkel’s  post-Kyoto agreement. This lack of commitment was giving Mr. Bush the opportunity to deflect pressure from other countries that want a deal done, critics said.

“The German presidency is insisting that the final declaration includes mandatory targets to reduce greenhouse gasses, but the Bush administration is opposing this,” Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion told the House of Commons. “We want to know from the Prime Minister what side Canada will take. Will he put his foot on the gas, or on the brake?”