How Effective Were Liberals & Dion?

PM is ineffective on environment
February 05, 2007
Getting warmer
Feb. 3.

With climate change poised to unleash a storm upon our world, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made it painfully clear there will be no storm of action from Canada and ur "new government." Far from it. In fact, the only intensity Harper seems able to muster on this vital issue is for the cynical and ridiculous stratagem of intensity targets for greenhouse-gas emissions.

This is ultimately nothing more than a ploy for disguising rising absolute emissions by measuring them as a share of economic output. By this standard, the unbridled expansion of oil-sands projects will qualify as sound environmental policy.

While we're at it, why don't we determine acceptable rates of cancer and other environmental diseases by measuring them against units of pollution output?

Harper is quoted as saying: "I don't think, realistically, we can tell Canadians, `Stop driving your car, stop going to work, stop heating your house in the winter.'" But what is realistic about failing to take action against the existential threat of runaway climate change?

Canadians are saying loudly and clearly that we are deeply worried about climate change, that we want action and that we are willing to make personal sacrifices to avoid sacrificing the health of our planet.

What we need is leadership. To adopt greener lifestyles, Canadians need coherent and effective public policy. To shift to a sustainable economy, business needs new standards and a level playing field. But instead of action, Harper offers us attack ads; instead of government, we get partisan politicking; instead of policy, we are given apology.

Called to confront the challenge of our age, Harper, in his own words, has declared himself to be inadequate for the task. Since he prefers the role of spectator, let us quickly give him a seat on the sidelines. The sooner we relegate Harper to an unfortunate footnote in the history of this crisis, the better.

Kevin Farmer, Toronto

[Star Poll]
thestar.com Poll
Will the latest report on climate change prompt you to make changes in your lifestyle?
Yes 1141 41%
No 1622 58%