Comments on: Election Is a Test of Canadians’ Conscience

By: Nate

Nate — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:36:17 +0000

Chris,

I agree with you that the NDP and Greens may hold the best choices for climate change, but the unfortunate reality of the situation is that the NDP or Greens are not going to be able to form a government, and at this point, we need to be careful and vote strategically so that Harper does not get a majority. In areas where Liberals have no chance of winning, i whole heartedly encourage people to vote NDP. But in areas where it is close Con versus Liberal, i think we all need to support the Lib candidate so that Harper cant get his majority. A majority Con government would be a disaster for this country.

By: Paul B

Paul B — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 22:48:48 +0000

The Liberals face the problems that the Canadian Alliance faced six years ago. At that time the right was split and now the Conservatives hold the middle ground and the Left is split. Add that to the fact that Dion is about as interesting as watching paint dry and you see the the Liberals problem. For anyone to say that Harper is Bush’s puppet clearly doesn’t live in the same Canada that I do but each unto their own.

By: Doug

Doug — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:20:01 +0000

Thanks for your comments. Unfortunately, it seems that once again the press will not focus on issues but on who is winning the horse race. The media are nearly all singing the same tune with constant negative references to Dion. The Liberals should also be pushing the idea that they are better financial managers given their achievements in tackling the debt mountain and beginning to invest in research and the universities.

By: Archie

Archie — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:25:20 +0000

Chris’ last post shows how difficult it will be to get a message across. We all seem to suffer from a lack of understanding or even knowledge of our recent political history. Stephen Dion was Minister of the Environment only in the last Martin government (about 14 months). In the Chretien governments, he served as the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and was responsible for the passage of the Clarity Act.

During his brief tenure at Environment he was responsible for the success of the international follow up meeting on Kyoto held in Montreal where as chair he was able to get agreement among the various countries. Regrettable, Canada voted for Haper in January and so nothing was ever implemented by the Conservative government.

We need to stop acting on myths as if they are reality and take the time to look at facts and then make our judgements.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:45:24 +0000

The Liberals signed on to Kyoto in 1998, and then promptly ignored it for 8 years. Dion was environment minister then, so I don’t buy the argument that things have drastically changed since. 80% of the MPs are still the same (including the one who represent my riding), the Liberal party brass is largely the same, and the grass roots Liberal membership is largely the same.

Why should I trust the Liberals to make any progress on the environment now? Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll vote NDP or Green.

By: Phillip Huggan

Phillip Huggan — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:00:40 +0000

Chris, if the Liberals had chosen say, pro-Iraq war Ignatieff as leader, I’d probably share your viewpoint, with a view towards being an NDPer. Then Layton came out for withdrawing from Afghanistan and against the carbon tax shift…the latter suggests he is putting poor Canadians ahead of poor future global citizens, which I don’t agree with. I agree it’s silly to fight when we are the only nation not fighting for oil in Iraq and are fighting in the most dangerous parts of Afghanistan, where our NATO ally was attacked from, but I think a better strategy is to suggest NATO members rotate in subsequent missions and to not allow simultaneous wars that destablize an existing mission. NATO at least potentially gives some checks on the PNAC.
I’d suggest voting strategically away from S.Harper, including Bloc, while the Conservatives continue to toe the Reagan line below:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article4690900.ece
Conservatives have implicated the old PCs in actively attempting to destroy civilization. All Al-Gaeda did was blow up some building that will soon be underwater anyways.

By: Nate

Nate — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:01:16 +0000

Chris,

You’re talking about different leaders of the Liberal party years apart.

I don’t think there is any doubt Dion plans for serious changes to Canada’s environment policy. It is a cornerstone of his plans.

The Liberals at least DID sign on to Kyoto. The Conservatives don’t even believe global warming exists. How can they attempt to fix the problem when they don’t believe there is one? Step one is to admit you have a problem.

Liberals are lightyears ahead of the Conservatives in this reguard.

By: Neil McLean

Neil McLean — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:41:42 +0000

I would have to agree with Chris’ comment. The Liberals come off as all talk on the environment. Honestly, if Canadians want to vote Green, they should literally vote Green. Dion’s carbon tax plans really just sounds like an obtuse method of instituing a new level of socialism in Canada. Tax everyone to kingdom come, then let the all knowing professor decide who gets their cut of the loot. Personally, I’m not cool with that and I don’t think it has anything at all to do with future generations, or holding the aging generations accountable for their pollution crimes.

Also, what’s with the pro-liberal spin? Starting to seem a little bias around here.

By: Mathieu-Gilles

Mathieu-Gilles — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:27:30 +0000

Great writing! I like you persperctive on things.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:27:30 +0000

I still have a tough time believing the Liberals are a progressive Green choice. Sure, they’re talking a tough game now, but considering their track record while they were in government, I’d say all that talk is nothing but green-washing – just like the Conservatives.