were when we had plenty of land and resources. Pedal to the metal exploitation and extraction were the rule of the day on this side of the border during the 19th century. It was only when we found ourselves surveying the wasteland that we created that conservation became an issue - often pushed by the very same people who were responsible for the destruction. Canadians are where we were 100 years ago. They still have the rape, loot and pillage mentality of the frontier.

Also, Americans are much feistier when it comes to defending the environment than Canadians - with their tradition of good behaviour and politeness. Earth First! got started in the US and not Canada for some very good reasons. Go paddling in Canada like I do and visit camp sites that are almost indescribable with human waste, etc. It is hard to imagine that someone could be bigger pigs than Americans when it comes to littering, but the Canadians are nipping at our heels.

Environmentally concerned Canada? ROFLOL.

Randy Cunningham
Cleveland, OH

nothing could cause me greater happiness than to be proven wrong. But proof is about deeds and not words.

Look forward to eating my words with fava beans and a fine Chianti.

Randy Cunningham
Cleveland, OH

Having had to suffer through the Conservatives continued cuts to the environment and funding for wildlife programs I would have to say enough is enough. However Dion just cannot sell the Green Shift to save his life (I am predicting that the liberals will be going down in flames this election and Dion will be out of a job pretty quick after that!) He comes across as whiny, confused and weak, even to those sympathetic to the cause. The Green Shift may be "revenue neutral" to the government but Canadians realize that even though they will pay less taxes they will have to face continued price hikes at the grocery store, gas station and almost everywhere else.

I would not say that the environment is not on Canadians minds however. I just think that they will decide to vote NDP or green rather than liberal (the Liberals were the leaders when we signed the Kyoto accord and then did nothing about it for the rest of their time in office, we realize that they are all talk and no action!!) Elizabeth May (the Green Party Leader) has some great ideas and I hope to hear them all in the leaders debate next week. Should be fun.

do a special report on conservatives and the environment. In the US the gauge of how politically correct you are as a conservative, is determined in part on how hostile you are to environmental protections, and the environmental movement. In Canada that seems to be the truth as well. But in the UK the Tories routinely back measures to curb green house gases, and have even gained some mileage by criticizing Labour for its foot dragging.

I think it would be interesting.

Randy Cunningham
Cleveland, OH

Three parties---the Liberals, NDP and Greens---that have plans that address the climate crisis.

The polls show that the Conversatives---the only party that figures the best way to deal with a crisis is to ignore it---would win the most seats. But this is misleading, because if a vote were held today, more Canadians would vote for an environment-conscious party than not. The problem is party due to a "split on the environment".

(Now, why a single Canadian would vote for a derivative, status quo party like the Conservatives is beyond me.)