In a campaign-style speech that bolsters rumblings of a looming general election, Harper said his government would set "enforceable targets" for short, medium and long-term cuts to carbon emissions linked to global warming.

"Canadians have made it clear to us that they want to put one task ahead of all others: protecting and improving the environment," he said in a nod to his many critics on the issue of climate change.

"Our government understood that global warming is a serious threat to the health and well-being of Canadians."

Harper also said his government would pursue an "assertive foreign policy, serving Canadian values and interests" and play "a stronger role in the world."

Harper said he would beef up Canada's military, already infused with billions of dollars worth of new equipment in 2006, and signaled a major announcement soon about "the next steps" to rebuild war-ravaged Afghanistan.

"Canada needs a stronger military and a stronger role in the world to protect our people at home and our interests abroad," he explained.

These undertakings come as Harper's Conservatives and opposition parties ready for a possible election in the coming months, although no camp seems willing to trigger a third general election in three years.

A previous climate change plan without firm emissions targets unveiled in October by Harper's former environment minister Rona Ambrose was widely panned by environmentalists and opposition lawmakers.

Opposition parties have since threatened to topple Harper's minority Conservative government, more earnestly lately, only to backtrack later.

The Conservatives meanwhile launched preemptive television attack ads last week against new Liberal leader Stephen Dion, a former environment minister who presided over a UN climate change conference in Montreal in 2005.

Harper has said he would be happy to govern until the end of his mandate in 2011, but relations with Canada's three opposition parties have been strained and support from at least one is needed for the Conservatives to stay in power.

Of note too, the average lifespan of a minority government in Canada is 18 months.

In his speech, Harper reiterated that he supports a "concerted global effort to deal with climate change" but that it must include major pollution emitters such as the United States and China.

He offered to regulate air pollution from major Canadian industries, fix vehicle fuel efficiency, mandate greater use of ethanol and other renewable fuels, as well as make energy efficient vehicles more affordable.

Harper also recast sometimes difficult Canada-US relations to "a grizzly bear and a wolverine" in contrast to one of his predecessors who likened the relationship to "a mouse sleeping beside an elephant."

"We may be small but no less fierce about protecting our territory," said Harper, his playful rhetoric pitting Canada against its only neighbor sure to score points with voters here.

Harper also said Ottawa would "engage relationships" with the United States, Mexico, as well as Caribbean, Central and South American countries.

And he said Canadians can expect "historic" tax cuts and debt repayment in the next federal budget, expected in March, the next likely opportunity for opposition parties to try to topple his government.

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