The Kyoto Protocol, and its ratification by the international community is the most controversial piece of news of the past few months. It is especially a touchy subject because the United States of America governing body decided not to ratify it, thus creating an international rift between the European Union and the superpowers like China and Russia have ratified the agreement. Nonetheless, the U.S. is the biggest economic power in the world, and the nation that produces the greatest amount of greenhouse gas per capita. Usually, our international policy and sometimes even our national policy follow in the footsteps of our southern neighbours, who pushed us into such agreements as NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), which was the subject of tremendous controversy at the time. Tough we depend on the U.S. for our exports, we also need to be aware of global issues such as pollution. In this paper, I will attempt to examine, simplify, and deliberate on the Kyoto Protocol, and the importance of its ratification or rejection. I will examine both the pros and the cons to this sensitive issue. I will also closely examine an economic region in Canada, namely Alberta and Saskatchewan, and voice my own opinion on the subject at hand.
             b.) Advantages for the national economy of ratification.
             Canada has several economic regions, all drawing their strength first of all from their natural resources, their export/import, as well as their various industrial infrastructures, which generate the backbone of their economies. These micro economies fuel the larger national economy, which in turn interacts through its policies with other nations, establishing policies, which are advantageous to the national economy. Following this structural model, it is no surprise that the west coast, the great plains, the economic zones of Ontario and Quebec, and the Maritimes all feel very differently as to how the ratification of the Kyoto Proto...