Stephen Harper and Tony Abbott together took a hard line Monday against measures to limit the emissions that cause climate change if there's a threat those measures would hurt their countries' economies.
Harper told reporters that Canada is simply more frank about its position on climate change than other countries.
The Canadian and Australian prime ministers, who praised each other's policies and called each other by their first names, met in Ottawa as Abbott stopped in on his way to Washington, D.C.
Harper told reporters he feels the same pressure "that we all feel" to make progress against climate change, and said measures taken by U.S. President Barack Obama don't go nearly as far in the electricity sector as Canada's measures.
Abbott said the world should do what it reasonably can to limit emissions and man-made climate change, "but we shouldn't clobber the economy."
Harper praised Abbott for his work as chair of the G20, as well as for ending Australia's carbon tax.
Harper also took an indirect shot at Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, saying Harper and Abbott know that budgets don't balance themselves. Canadian Conservative MPs jumped on Trudeau last February after Trudeau said economic growth would mean "the budget will balance itself."
Abbott and Harper praised each other, with Abbott telling reporters that Harper has been a guide to centre-right politicians around the world.
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