Health and the environment are also big issues on the municipal level

“You see people going through drive-throughs and they're smoking with their kids in the back. It's a confined space and there's no way out.” said Bernie MacDonald, the London City Councillor who represents Ward 3, which encompasses Fanshawe College, who proposing a bylaw against people who smoke in their vehicles when children are present.

Those two sentences encapsulate what's wrong with Canadian politicians. I know, I know, this is local, municipal stuff. I shouldn't paint with such broad strokes, but it's hard to avoid. MacDonald, apparently, sees nothing wrong with legislating against evil smokers, but leaves out the drive-throughs and fast food establishments. Idling cars, waiting for food and drinks laced with sugar, salt, fat, empty calories - food that comes from no identifiable source. McShitburgers certainly aren't made with 100 per cent Canadian produce. I'm not sure Canada has a grade of beef that goes that low on the meat quality scale, to be honest, if the patties are made with beef to start with.

Then there's the idling vehicle sitting there, puking out carbon monoxide, fouling the ground level air, releasing particles of lung clogging unburned gas and diesel into the air that we inhale every time we breathe.

MacDonald, what's the ratio of people who smoke in their cars versus the ratio of people who drive in the city everyday, polluting the overall air quality for Londoners? MacDonald, does that carbon monoxide not contribute to Ontario having some of the worst low-level air quality readings in North America? MacDonald, are you there? You heard of global warming, peak oil, air quality advisories, and increasing rates of lung cancer at the same time the smoking population is at it's lowest in half a decade? I suspect you have, but those damn smoking drivers are criminals. Legislation needs to be passed immediately. I'm sure the cops will enjoy enforcing the potential legislation - as long as they get increased funding to do so. Hell, London will likely need a dedicated team of cops to enforce the new bylaw. Why not? The cops can patrol notorious smoking-in-car havens like Timmies in their supped-up armoured vehicles than deal with important crimes.

I'm guessing MacDonald is aware that Prime Minister Harper single handedly scuttled a Commonwealth deal, which would have set hard targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. I'm guessing MacDonald believes that Harper gives sweet-crude slippery hand-jobs to oil execs in his spare time. Albertan economist-politicians tend to do that, given that the province exists solely because of the oil industry.

Similarly, MacDonald tends to get into local office because local voters favour Liberals like himself, who put feel-good band-aids on gaping wounds. Both Harper and MacDonald need to stroke their electorates. Otherwise, they might not get into office.

At least Harper realizes Canadians are not ready to make the lifestyle sacrifices necessary to meet emission target protocols like Kyoto. Harper knows Canadians are using up limited resources so they can get in their cars, fire up a smoke, and drive their fat kids to McDonald's so the chubby little monsters can scarf their nightly saturated fat fix, with a side salad, before pumping them full of Ritalin, so the little shits sleep before a visit to the childhood diabetes doctor the next day. We do lead stressful lives. The last thing Harper wants to do is stop us from spending money, especially on gasoline, or recognizing that we're fucking ourselves. He just wants a majority.

I have no idea what MacDonald wants, other than more useless legislation. I wonder if he has ever pedaled a bicycle down Oxford Street. And he thinks that a little second hand smoke drifting in front of Billy's backseat DVD player is so important that it needs to be illegal. He hasn't seen the black snot nuggets that have to be chipped out of my nose after a morning commute by bike.

To be fair, MacDonald is the same Councillor who championed banning the sale of graffiti gear to young people. The creation of that bylaw is the crowning achievement of MacDonald's career. It was hoped that he'd retire gracefully, having passed such crucial legislation.

MacDonald has also successfully lobbied for more police presence in his Ward. Now he's pushing for this smoking in cars bylaw. Thanks, Bernie, you're serving Londoners well.

Just like our Prime Minister is serving Canadians well by keeping the environmental boogeyman at bay for another polling period. Keep the tax cuts coming, Steve. Keep the oil revenue generated surpluses rolling to justify those tax cuts. Don't allow electric vehicles to be sold in Canada (domestic manufacturers have vehicles operating in the States and overseas, but not in Canada). And certainly don't try being a world leader. It's not worth the risk.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.