Parties must go green to win
This column is not about the sex life of the Incredible Hulk. But if the big green dude was thinking about running in the Canadian Federal election on October 14, you can bet all the parties would be scrambling to sign him up. What political party could turn down a candidate who could frighten the shit out of opponents while displaying the colour that all parties are hoping to use for their own political gain?
“Green” issues and environmental policy could play a strong role in this election, and rightfully so.
Canadians are among the worst polluters on the planet, and we're definitely mindless consumers who pay little heed to the consequences of our daily purchases. Sure, we live in a cold country and need to heat homes with oil, natural gas and coal-fired power plant generated electricity. Yeah, it's a large country and that means travel within our borders will take more fossil fuels than skipping across Germany, for instance. Even with a daily bombardment from the media about melting polar ice, poor air quality, global food scarcities and more intense and frequent weather related disasters due to climate change - we still jump in our cars and drive two blocks to grab a stringer of domes and a bottle of water. We try and console ourselves by buying hybrid vehicles, wearing hemp clothes and growing dreads, giving money to environmental groups, or by voting for political parties that promise to be “green.”
The Green Party of Canada has an early lead as the most environmentally friendly political party, partly on simple colour and name recognition, a typical marketing trick. We accept as fact that the Greens are truly “green,” and if given the chance will turn Canada into a sweet and earthy smelling nation where human beings will live in harmony with nature. Exactly how the Greens propose to switch Canada from an energy-exporting nation with a high standard of living while implementing environmentally friendly initiatives is unclear.
A “green” economy sounds great but there are still billions of barrels of oil in places like Alberta and extracting the black gold from the tar sands is an energy intensive operation. Note here that Canada has not suffered economically of late due - almost entirely - to revenue and employment generated from our resource sector: ie, oil, natural gas and minerals. None of which can be considered in any way shape or form “green” industries.
Then there's the Liberal plan: The Green Shift.
Championed by Liberal leader, Stephane Dion, the plan called for a tax on carbon. Kinda like the one BC has put in place provincially. Double taxes for BC, Stephane? The plan was condemned by farm, trucking and logging groups, as unfair. So, mere days before the election was called, the Libs announced a revised Green Shift. Political expediency goes green.
At least the Libs have a plan, even if no one expects them to implement it, or even accept its existence once blown aside by the shifting winds of public debate.
The Conservatives, meanwhile, are going to campaign on the economy and crime. They'll propose giving tax credits for buying a new fridge and a couple million for research into how to best clean tar pond scum off ducks. I give the Cons some credit for sticking to their guns and not splashing some green paint on their cool blue image. Stephen Harper may now live in Ottawa, but he knows Alberta is home.
The NDP's line will probably be that when Elizabeth May - now Green Party Leader - was president of Canada's Sierra Club, she gave the NDP's environmental policies a higher mark than the Green Party. But with members like star Quebecer Tommy Mulcair on the team, the NDP doesn't have a lot of room to wiggle. Mulcair once advocated selling Quebec's water to US businesses. And the federal NDP has little contact with rural communities, which would be hardest hit by carbon tax legislation. Leader Jack Layton lives in a communal green household with his partner and fellow NDP MP Olivia Chow. That's a great way to connect with the average voter.
In the coming weeks there will be endless debate over which party is most green. And that's unfortunate. Leaving environmental policy in the hands of elected officials is asking for trouble, mainly because the Liberals or Conservatives will be forming the next government (barring one of the largest upsets in electoral history) and neither party has proven itself capable of taking charge and leading Canada towards a sustainable future despite decades of political opportunity. So, during this election season, make sure and scratch beneath the green veneer of our local candidates. Try and find out what kind of wolf is hiding behind that fine wool clothing. And don't forget to vote.
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.
“Green” issues and environmental policy could play a strong role in this election, and rightfully so.
Canadians are among the worst polluters on the planet, and we're definitely mindless consumers who pay little heed to the consequences of our daily purchases. Sure, we live in a cold country and need to heat homes with oil, natural gas and coal-fired power plant generated electricity. Yeah, it's a large country and that means travel within our borders will take more fossil fuels than skipping across Germany, for instance. Even with a daily bombardment from the media about melting polar ice, poor air quality, global food scarcities and more intense and frequent weather related disasters due to climate change - we still jump in our cars and drive two blocks to grab a stringer of domes and a bottle of water. We try and console ourselves by buying hybrid vehicles, wearing hemp clothes and growing dreads, giving money to environmental groups, or by voting for political parties that promise to be “green.”
The Green Party of Canada has an early lead as the most environmentally friendly political party, partly on simple colour and name recognition, a typical marketing trick. We accept as fact that the Greens are truly “green,” and if given the chance will turn Canada into a sweet and earthy smelling nation where human beings will live in harmony with nature. Exactly how the Greens propose to switch Canada from an energy-exporting nation with a high standard of living while implementing environmentally friendly initiatives is unclear.
A “green” economy sounds great but there are still billions of barrels of oil in places like Alberta and extracting the black gold from the tar sands is an energy intensive operation. Note here that Canada has not suffered economically of late due - almost entirely - to revenue and employment generated from our resource sector: ie, oil, natural gas and minerals. None of which can be considered in any way shape or form “green” industries.
Then there's the Liberal plan: The Green Shift.
Championed by Liberal leader, Stephane Dion, the plan called for a tax on carbon. Kinda like the one BC has put in place provincially. Double taxes for BC, Stephane? The plan was condemned by farm, trucking and logging groups, as unfair. So, mere days before the election was called, the Libs announced a revised Green Shift. Political expediency goes green.
At least the Libs have a plan, even if no one expects them to implement it, or even accept its existence once blown aside by the shifting winds of public debate.
The Conservatives, meanwhile, are going to campaign on the economy and crime. They'll propose giving tax credits for buying a new fridge and a couple million for research into how to best clean tar pond scum off ducks. I give the Cons some credit for sticking to their guns and not splashing some green paint on their cool blue image. Stephen Harper may now live in Ottawa, but he knows Alberta is home.
The NDP's line will probably be that when Elizabeth May - now Green Party Leader - was president of Canada's Sierra Club, she gave the NDP's environmental policies a higher mark than the Green Party. But with members like star Quebecer Tommy Mulcair on the team, the NDP doesn't have a lot of room to wiggle. Mulcair once advocated selling Quebec's water to US businesses. And the federal NDP has little contact with rural communities, which would be hardest hit by carbon tax legislation. Leader Jack Layton lives in a communal green household with his partner and fellow NDP MP Olivia Chow. That's a great way to connect with the average voter.
In the coming weeks there will be endless debate over which party is most green. And that's unfortunate. Leaving environmental policy in the hands of elected officials is asking for trouble, mainly because the Liberals or Conservatives will be forming the next government (barring one of the largest upsets in electoral history) and neither party has proven itself capable of taking charge and leading Canada towards a sustainable future despite decades of political opportunity. So, during this election season, make sure and scratch beneath the green veneer of our local candidates. Try and find out what kind of wolf is hiding behind that fine wool clothing. And don't forget to vote.
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.
