OTTAWA, Ont. — Prime Minister Jean Chretien has done everything but say Canada is backing out of its commitment to the Kyoto Accord on climate change.

The PM is backpedaling on the accord that industry and the Alberta government says will kill jobs and devastate the oil and gas industry.

“I think it’s very important for Canada to position itself to be in a position to sign Kyoto one day,” says Chretien. Opposition parties immediately pounced on the “one day” comment, noting the PM had once committed to ratifying the agreement by the end of the year. Chretien came under fire by opposition MPs yesterday after it was revealed his cabinet is split on the issue and will urge Chretien to dump the deal in favor of a made-in-Canada solution during their weekly cabinet meeting today.

“Now we’re being told ‘one day’,” says Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe, who backs the accord. Environment Minister David Anderson wouldn’t say whether there’s going to be a showdown in cabinet but said there’s no doubt Canada will ratify the deal.