Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson is open to imposing tougher regulations to curb methane emissions from the oil and gas sector if that is required to hit a 2025 target to cut them by almost half, his staff said Friday.

Canada set a goal in 2016 to cut methane emissions by 40 to 45 per cent in 2025 compared to what they were in 2012. A new report from the Pembina Institute and Environmental Defence says the regulations in place now for methane will only achieve a 29 per cent cut by 2025.

“They’re not on track to meet the target,” said Jan Gorski, a senior analyst at the Pembina Institute.

A statement released through Wilkinson’s office did not question the analysis, saying only that the federal government is “committed” to hitting the promised target.