The official opposition in the House of Commons is “prepared to look at any initiatives” brought forward for fighting climate change by the new Liberal government, but those initiatives must not have a negative effect on the Canadian economy.

This according to Conservative environment critic Ed Fast, who spoke with Tom Clark in Paris this weekend as a large Canadian delegation prepared to sit down at the table for a major climate change conference.

“What we have said is that we believe a regulatory approach … is the preferred way forward,” Fast said, referring to putting regulations in place that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in various economic sectors.

When asked if his party would support a tougher stance, like a national tax on carbon, Fast replied “we are prepared to look at any initiatives that come forward but they have to respect the taxpayers.”

“We’ve been very clear that Canada must do its part to address the issues of climate change … We’re prepared to do our part, I think Canada is prepared to do its part.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We've been very clear that Canada must do its part to address the issues of climate change … We're prepared to do our part, I think Canada is prepared to do its part."

But for the Conservatives, he added, that also means striking a balance between leaving a clean, healthy environment for future generations and sustaining economic prosperity.

Clark asked him how much climate change his party would be willing to accept in order to shield the economy. Fast repeated that striking a balance is what will be important.

“If you don’t balance off the initiatives that are going to address climate change against the economic prosperity that Canadians have come to expect, you can quickly lose the mandate to take tough measures to address climate change issues,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "If you don't balance off the initiatives that are going to address climate change against the economic prosperity that Canadians have come to expect, you can quickly lose the mandate to take tough measures to address climate change issues," he said.

Fast told Clark that his government was the first in Canadian history to actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while also growing the economy.

That is true, strictly speaking. After the Conservatives took power in 2006, greenhouse gas emissions by the end of the year were at 740 megatonnes, according to Environment Canada. In 2013, the most recent year available, they were at 726 megatonnes, representing a drop of about 2 per cent over seven years.

However, the only years where a drop was recorded were 2008 and 2009, when Canada was in recession.

READ MORE: Reality check: Have greenhouse gas emissions decreased as the economy grows?