I got an email the other day with the request seen in today's header from a reader who is deeply concerned about environmental issues. The "this" was the unprecedented action of the Canadian senate to kill the Climate Change Accountability Act. For the first time in 70 years the unelected senate euthanized a bill sent forward by our elected legislature without debate . What it means is that the Canadian government will attend a climate change conference without direction from the members of parliament who were chosen by the people of Canada. The climate change bill set ambitious targets which would have moved us more into line with the climate policies of other advanced nations.
I rarely get partisan in expressing political views, but to me this is one more disturbing example of an autocratic prime minister deciding that the democratic process is not necessary to advance his goals. Actually, the word "advance" is too charitable. Canada seems to be retreating farther and farther from any cohesive plan for environmental sustainability. Canada will go to the conference of 200 countries in Cancun, Mexico, without an environment minister because of the recent resignation of Jim Prentice.
In scripture we are enjoined to be stewards of this earth, to "tend the garden" for the wellbeing of all living things. God help us if we continue on the incredibly short-sighted path we are currently taking. The weeds are taking over the garden.
Were you aware of this disturbing action? Did you know that we don't have an environment minister at the moment? Other thoughts?
7 comments:
I had no idea about any of this. It's makes me angry. How can decisions like this be made? It feels like the people of Canada are being ignored. Why is that man still in power? It's times like this when I want to get my Canadian citizenship so I can vote!
It's become more and more apparent to the international community that Canada is becoming the backwoods of concerted, informed action against climate change. It also clearly shows out federal government as unafraid to go to bat for western interests; specifically Alberta's energy lobby and its tarsands projects.
What boils my blood even more is that this Prime Minister, when leader of the Opposition, railed time and time again against the "undemocratic" nature of an un-elected Senate that could exert the very powers it did last week over the will of the legislature and the heads of the people.
It must be a different situation when you stack the thing yourself to carry out your own agenda. Right, Steve?
The Senate's decision is shortsighted, self-serving hypocrisy and fails all Canadians on just about every level. We should heap shame on the Senate for this disgrace.
PS - Can someone please get it through to Jack Layton and Michael Ignatieff that it's coalition time?! Get on it!
Hear! hear! for IanD. I second this. We do not live in a democracy anymore, we have a dictator running our country. It is long past the time for all of us to stand up to Harper!
Harper has messed up so many times it makes your head spin.
I recall years ago when G Dubya took the Americans into Iraq, Stevie wrote a letter(as leader of the opposition) to a New York newspaper stating he was embarrassed by Canada's decision to not join in the absurd attack.
Then, with public opinion so strongly against the invasion, he very clumsily backpedalled his initial support.
So, it is no surprise that he is undermining Canada's opportunity to be a world leader in caring for the environment.
He simply cannot be trusted.
The senate is an outdated, over funded, highly useless, retirement home for those who are being rewarded for selling out in years past.
Now they are being called upon again to undermine the democratic process.
The senate should have been closed decades ago. The only reason it has not is that there would be one less carrot to dangle when trying to sway a vote.
Very unCanadian.
Deb. Get your citizenship! We can use all the good Canadians we can get.
I listened to an interview with three senators after this vote. The two conservatives insisted that the PM had no involvement in their decision to oppose the bill. I still wonder about the tenor of the senate, created and encouraged by the PM. I am distressed by the Conservative's reluctance to address climate change.
I wonder what former UCC moderator, Lois Wilson, would say about her time in the senate.
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