It Isn't Easy Being the Green President

Edward Burtynsky

Obamamania is in full swing in Ottawa today as the U.S. President makes his first state visit to a foreign country. Canadians are smitten by the new president and as one newspaper columnist wrote this morning, her women friends haven't been this giddy since the Beatles showed up in Toronto during the sixties.

While Obama will be here for just a few hours this visit is an important first step toward renewing what had been an excellent relationship until the regime of He Who Must Not Be Named. One of the issues to be touched upon is the way oil is produced in Alberta. Canada is the biggest supplier of oil to the United States --more than Saudi Arabia -- and much of it comes from the oil sands of Alberta. The way it is refined now makes it just about the dirtiest oil in the world in terms of pollution.

It has been described as "stupid to the last drop." Obama's government is committed to lowering greenhouse emissions, so finding cleaner sources of energy is a high priority.

Canada has done a fair amount of research on greenhouse gas sequestering, which is essentially securing it underground rather than pumping it into the air. Personally, it sounds like throwing stuff into a closet before the arrival of an important guest, such as, say, a president. There is only so much you can put in that closet and eventually you have to sort out the mess. But at least sequestering represents searching for a solution.

Many groups, including the Green Party and Christian denominations have consistently pestered our federal government to "clean up it's act" and create meaningful legislation which would regulate greenhouse gases. The churches have appealed on ethical grounds, motivated by a belief that "the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." It may be that a greener pres will bring about the change which is necessary.