I mentioned in a previous post that Canadians might be facing an election soon over the Conservative government's budget. That turned out not to happen (all three opposition parties had to oppose it, and only two did).
Instead, something much more interesting may happen: The three opposition parties have finalized their much-improved version of a Clean Air Act, with hard targets on CO2 emissions and penalties for those who don't make the necessary cuts. This leaves the government in an uncomfortable position: either accept a bill that they hate, or call an election over it.
Canadian politics have been pretty unpredictable as of late, so I won't risk a guess on how this will all turn out. But it will be interesting to see the environment take center stage in our national debate.
One big remaining question is whether the Conservatives will succeed in making this a "law and order" election, like some pundits and bloggers are speculating, or whether the Liberals will be able to keep the focus on the environment.
(The new and improved Clean Air Act apparently incorporates some of the features of the Liberal White Paper I discussed previously.)
‘Copenhagen Diagnosis’ offers a grim update to the IPCC’s climate science
The tar sands blow
Make the kids pay: The economic effects of climate change on future generations
Comments
View as Flat
caniscandida Posted 7:17 pm
29 Mar 2007
Liberal MP David McGuinty is quoted as uttering this remarkably unhappy sentence:
"What we have done is put Humpty Dumpty back together again in a way that perhaps the prime minister might not like it."
The imagery is bizarre and incredible enough; but the ending of the relative clause is on the level of something George W. Bush might say. Canadians have a great educational tradition, and Canadians of Celtic origin proudly uphold the highest standards of style and eloquence. One hopes that the interviewer caught Mr. MP McGuinty at an unusual moment of perplexity ...
Who, by the way, is that center-foldishly featured fellow in the ubiquitous ads, apparently the star of some TV show, the one with the black T-shirt, the white wrist-band, the remarkable sideburns, the knowing glance and the kissable lips? Is that George Stoumboulopoulos himself?
Can anyone wonder, then, why so many Americans want to move to Canada? Even apart from all the other reasons why Americans may want to move to Canada?
Chickens are our cousins!
So are other sensitive animals!
Enough is enough!
No more factory farms!
Permalink
Simon Donner Posted 6:46 am
30 Mar 2007
The real danger is that, in the meantime, the Republicans and the Conservatives (in Canada) may win points by bashing the oppositions over lack of action in the past(ie. bash Gore, Stephane Dion) and passing legislation that aims for the low-hanging carbon fruit. This will only slow the move to a policy addressing the real obstacles.
http://simondonner.blogspot.com
Permalink