Today, the campaign for the 40th Canadian election began. And so began a test of Canadians’ conscience. The ballot question is actually quite clear: do I cast my vote to maximize my interests in the present, or to maximize my childrens’ interests in the future? Or more simply: do I choose short-term economic concerns or long-term environmental concerns? It is, at heart, a test of conscience, especially for a people who see themselves as on moral high-ground with respect to their short-term, small-thinking American friends.
On the one hand, Canadians will hear that we face “uncertain times”, that it is “too risky” to do things any different than we’ve always done (quite literally the slogan on the Conservative website says: “Canadians cannot afford risky experiments at a time of uncertainty”). It is the ultimate Conservative message: vote for the status quo over change (oh, and, by the way, since our leader is a hard-ass, he’s also a stronger leader than the erudite professor). In fact, this was precisely John McCain’s script against Barack Obama until he, too, decided to jump on the “change” bandwagon. On the other hand, Canadians will hear that it’s time for baby boomers to take care of the mess their generation created, to put the environment first, so that their children and grandchildren can live in a better world. The difference isn’t between risk and no risk, but rather short-term risk and long-term risk; risk is unavoidable, as it always is when the future cannot be known with certainty.
But, Canadians being Canadians — that is, moderate, reasonable, generally-risk-averse folks — voters will want their cake and eat it, too. Both messages (economy and environment) will probably have a least some resonance with the average voter. The party that makes the most compelling case for balancing both the economy and the environment will be the party that forms the next government. The Conservatives have the upper hand, because in an age where even the most polluting oil companies pitch themselves as “green” (a practice known as “greenwashing”), it is easy to sound green, even if you have no intention of actually following through. So, expect the Conservatives to greenwash just enough to make it look like they care. And, as the perceived tax-cutters, most people generally think the Conservatives are best placed to keep the economy afloat (even if it is naive to think the federal government really has that much influence). Moreover, the “change” position is split 3, if not 4, ways to Sunday (Liberal, NDP, Green, Bloc). The only progressive party who can realistically form the government — the Liberals (sorry, NDPers) — have no choice but to argue for consolidation of the progressive vote.
This is likely how the campaign plays out. But there is a missing narrative here. The Conservatives have erred in framing environmental responsibility in direct opposition to economic progress. Stephen Harper assumes that “going green” will automatically be harmful to our economy. And how is the average voter to know any different? S/he can’t. Unless, of course, the progressive parties convince voters that the exact opposite is true — that inaction on the environment will seriously harm our economy in a world where even the most egregious companies recognize its bad business not to get on board the green train.
It’s not that it isn’t true — indeed, the evidence from countries that have taken action on the environment is very positive, from flourishing economies to job creation — but it is not an easy sell. It’s going to take more than obtuse statements about “green-collar jobs”, which don’t mean much to the folks who’ve just lost their well-paying factory job and now struggling to pay the bills earning minimum wage.
Most importantly, it means being honest with voters, to treat them with respect by telling them not what they want to hear (such as “we will ensure you will always have cheap gas”) but rather telling voters what they need to hear (that they need to make better choices if they want their children to enjoy the quality of life they enjoy). Government will do its part doing what each of us cannot do on our own, but it is incumbent upon each and every voter to take it upon themselves to go green — and if the experiences elsewhere are any indication, chances are, they’ll even save a little green a long the way.
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