In response to massive negative public response to legislation that mirrors the USA the ban has been put on hold until at least 2014. As pointed out elsewhere the colder the country and the more non fossil fuel electricity that exists the poorer the environmental argument is for swapping incandescent lamps for CFLi. With a particular concern for other environmental impacts, particularly mercury emissions and other waste, Canadian legislators have realised that the existing arguments are not appropriate for Canada. They also cite the speed of change has not allowed for full technological development of either higher efficiency incandescent lamps or other light sources.
There is an interesting parallel here with the situation in New Zealand where, at the last minute, they rejected playing follow my leader with the Australian ban and sought to make decisions appropriate to their situation. I hope that this move in Canada will allow other countries peripheral to Europe to make their own decisions and not capitulate to ill considered legislation dreamed up in the massive and often ill informed legislatures of the major world players.
Kevan Shaw 25 May 2011
Hello Kevin!
Are there news articles about this? Have you followed what Howard Brandston is doing? Hope all is well.