Laboratories of democracy

Oh, Canada

Posted by John McGrath (Guest Contributor) at 2:22 PM on 11 May 2007

Read more about: environmental movement | politics | Canada | renewable energy | energy

So, it's an interesting time to be an environmentalist in Canada. On one hand, we have a federal government whose green policies were described as "a complete and total fraud ... designed to mislead the Canadian people" by no less than the Goreacle himself.

In this case, however, one of the sometimes-maddening aspects of Canadian politics is of some benefit. You see, natural resources (including all energy sources) are matters of provincial jurisdiction in Canada. This is problematic if you want to see a national plan on fossil fuels, because as a political reality you'd have to get all 10 provincial premiers to sign on -- and that's like herding cats. But it does have its virtues on some days, and yesterday the Toronto Star reported that the government of Ontario (Canada's most populous, most industrial province) is set to announce a far more ambitious green plan than the one announced by Ottawa.

It's still not great -- Ontario, like the rest of Canada, is going to miss its Kyoto targets, though by a smaller margin than oil-rich, coal-fired Alberta. But there's plenty in there to love, hate, and discuss further, I'm sure. Some of the high points:

Coal, being the enemy of the human race, will no longer provide electricity in Ontario by 2014. The problem is, the same government promised in 2003 that this would happen by ... 2007.
A passel of programs for small-scale, distributed power: heat recycling, solar, other renewables all get a mix of price supports and tax breaks.
Increased tax credits (already $2,000) for purchase of fuel-efficient vehicles.

One of the interesting things will be to see the interplay between the provincial and federal Liberal parties. The Liberal Party of Stephane Dion in Ottawa has been maintaining that Canada still has time to meet it's Kyoto targets, which frankly strains credibility. The Liberal Party of Ontario (led by Dalton McGuinty) seems to be accepting that Ontario cannot, in fact, meet it's Kyoto target by the deadline. Talking-point fratricide is something I like to track among politicians, but it's possible I'm the only one interested in this stuff.

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And wildlife issues?

This is indeed an "interesting" time for environmentalists in Canada. It will be a most unfortunate time as well, if "environmentalism" is dumb-downedly re-defined so as to exclude wildlife issues.

The annual subsidized protected indescribable slaughter of juvenile harp seals in the waters around the Atlantic provinces is a horror that every Canadian environmentalist must deal with.

The trophy-hunting of polar bears, animals which deserve to be included on the "endangered species" list, in Nunavut and elsewhere above the 60th parallel, ought also to receive much wider publicity than it has, so far.

Boycotting the Vancouver Winter Olympics will be a fine gesture, in support of Canadian wildlife. Hopefully, there will be as well a statement, well publicized, on why the boycott is being carried out.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 5:16 AM on 12 May 2007

Canada Won't Need So Much Energy

Now that we're entering the Goldilocks Optimum (Modern Warming) Canada's energy needs will decrease significantly.

Then entire Central Northern zone will open up as the ice melts and vast arable hectares of land become available.

We may see a new "Land Rush" with settlers in SUVs racing across the moist plains of Alberta, ready to put down their stakes and claim a real plot of the Earth.

The influence of the top 3% of the people that control 84% of the resources must be reduced.

by jabailo at 11:46 AM on 12 May 2007

ADVERTISING POLICY

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