Canada is heating up at twice the rate of the rest of the world. Sure, our climate protects us from the most severe consequences but we are dealing with effects nonetheless (forest fires, extreme heat waves, etc.). No, Canada won't have an impact on global emissions by simply meeting our targets, we are obviously too insignificant of a contributor, but that isn't an excuse to do nothing.
I don't know what you're on about in your conspiracy theory train of thought, but carbon pricing is our best path to innovation, whether those breakthroughs come in alternatives (nuclear, solar, etc) or efficiencies in extraction of oil.
There was plenty, you just had to seek it out.