What A Difference A Couple Of Weeks Can Make

Gore Welcomed By Protesters During Toronto Visit
Thursday March 22, 2007

Al Gore received a rock star's welcome last month when he delivered an address at the University of Toronto, but the former American vice president and climate crusader didn't receive a greeting quite as warm when he visited the city again Thursday.

Protesters chanted outside the Four Seasons Hotel on Avenue Road where Gore was speaking at the 2007 Top Employers Summit. The world's defacto global warming spokesman delivered the full presentation from his Oscar winning documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" as part of his keynote address.

The very green Liberal Leader Stephane Dion introduced Gore and gave him a warm welcome, but protesters outside the posh hotel held up placards claiming his global warming warnings are a sham.

"It's not every day you get the opportunity to introduce somebody who put the most pressing issue to the top of the agenda for humanity," Dion said.

"Our country is a big polluter on a per capita basis. We're part of the problem, but at the same time the confidence that our country may be part of the solution."

On Wednesday Gore addressed the U.S. Congress pleading with politicians to take stronger action against global warming.

He kept a much-lower profile during his stop in Toronto, leaving out the back door of the hotel. News cameras also weren't allowed into Thursday's meeting.

While he was fighting to get his message across in America a recent poll suggests the former U.S. vice president and other environment advocates are influencing opinions here in Canada.

But there's a flip side.

Rich and educated Canadians say they're worried about global warming, but not enough to give up their luxurious gas-guzzling SUVs or to lower their thermostats to save power.

Gore will be back in Toronto at the end of April for the first ever Green Living Show at Exhibition Place.

He will be presenting his award-winning documentary at the event on April 28., which is sold out.