Climate Change in Canada. Where’s The Leadership?
Posted on | December 19, 2009 | No Comments
The headline this morning on the CBC follows, “Canada part of Copenhagen climate deal”. After reading the news I have to ask myself exactly what part is that?
I don’t like to get political here. But I’m growing tired of being Canadian. Did I say that? Sorry… dont’ get me wrong. I love being Canadian. It’s better than some of the other options. We have a great country. It’s full of diversity, culture, colour, resources, innovation, compassion and opportunity. However, we are short on political leadership. We have the people and resources to make great things happen. Yet we lack a real leader to put Canada on the map as a real player in the global community.
The leaders of the developed and developing nations have wrapped up two weeks of finger-pointing and political gesturing around what should have been an agreement to deal with climate change and increasing levels of pollution in the air, water and land. So what happened? Everyone agreed on let’s wait and see next year.
And where was Prime Minister Harper? He had a chance again to shine and bring something of value to these meetings. Again he fell short. Then I remember he was the same man that in 2007 ditched the Kyoto accord. He thought it was a socialist scheme to pull money from the rich countries to feed the poor developing nations. Instead he devised a 50 year plan with no targets, guidelines or objectives towards some illusion of environmental policy that was more of a pacifier than real leadership. Why would I expect more?
I am disappointment with Harper as Prime Minister. I don’t believe has done much for Canada. The fact that we’ve weathered the worst global recession since the great depression wasn’t due to his leadership. It has more to do with smart financial policies and regulations that we in place before him. He has done little to bring this country together. He has been embarrassing in the international forum. He hasn’t been a real factor in bolstering our position with the States. He doesn’t have the respect you would expect from China and he is losing credibility with other nations over Afghanistan, oil and now climate change.
Harper has been in office going on to four years. And yet he has never been to China – our largest trading partner. Considering that there are over 1.5 million Chinese living in Canada – split mainly between Vancouver and Toronto – you would think he would take a bit more interest. Climate change has been on the agenda for years and still no progress. And where are we with the war in Afghanistan but stuck following the command from others. Harper what do you stand for? I hope by the next election you figure it out and decide to sit down.