Although one dinosaur Commonwealth leader, John Howard of Australia has thankfully been confined to history, there are others out there still grazing happily.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been called “a saboteur” and “environmental criminal” for refusing to sign up to a climate deal at the Commonwealth meeting in Africa.

Harper, was also condemned as an “international pariah” for refusing to sign a climate agreement that exempts developing countries, but sets binding targets for the developed world.

Instead he brokered a compromise deal that pledged members to work toward undefined, so-called “aspirational” goals on greenhouse gas emissions.

“Instead of leading by example, this prime minister engaged in sabotage of the Commonwealth conference,” said Liberal Leader Stephane Dion. “When you’re Canada, you lead.” Gilles Duceppe of the Bloc Quebecois accused Harper of siding with Big Oil. “Isn’t he showing his true colours, that he’s the champion of the oil industry?”

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