Last Chance for Democracy?

I just got this message from Jack Layton (who strikes me as being quite organized):

Thank you for your previous email in support of protecting Canada's environment.

I want to take this opportunity to update you on my Party's work to advance the fight against dangerous climate change. Our efforts received a major setback due to the combined forces of Conservative and Liberal MPs who voted together to delay Bill C-311, the New Democrat Climate Change Accountability Act.

Bill C-311, with tough, science-based reduction targets for our greenhouse gases, offered Canada a real chance to prove to the world that it is serious about tackling climate change. It passage by Parliament would have given Canada the credibility it sorely needs when it goes to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Now, instead of taking leadership on the environment, Canada will go to Copenhagen with nothing to offer.

For our part, New Democrats will seek any parliamentary measure possible to return C-311 to Parliament.

The decision by Liberal MPs to join with the Conservative to deny passage of this important legislation made one thing clear: more votes for the Conservatives and Liberals will mean less tangible action to protect our environment.

Others agree with our assessment:

“To date, Liberal environmental policies are indistinguishable from those of the Conservative government that have pushed Canada to last place among developed nations in protecting climate and the natural environment.“ – Stephen Hazell, Executive Director, Sierra Club Canada on September 21, 2009.

“This Bill (C-311) has wide support from a broad spectrum of Canadians. Politicians need to set aside their partisan differences and agree on these science-based emissions reduction targets. Time is running out.” - Mark Fried, policy coordinator, Oxfam Canada on October 21, 2009.

“Passing this Bill (C-311) before Copenhagen in December is Parliament’s only hope of proving that we are prepared to work seriously through the United Nations to find a solution to global warming. The Liberals voting with the Conservatives may have made that impossible.” - Dale Marshall, David Suzuki Foundation on October 21, 2009.

Looking forward, you can continue to count on our team of New Democrat MPs to push our plan to take on big polluters, protect our environment, and invest in sustainable solutions. I invite you to check the following link to find out more about our work: http://www.ndp.ca/platform/environment/aplanthatwillwork.

Again, thank you for your ongoing interest to have Canada's elected representatives act on climate change. Feel free to forward my email to anyone interested in environmental protection. All the best.

Sincerely,

Jack Layton, MP (Toronto-Danforth)
Leader, Canada's New Democrats

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His message is pretty accurate I found after reading this CBC article on the voting today. The best part is the Stephane Dion was the first Liberal to vote against the bill. Not that I'm surprised, he's a Liberal.

Great timing, the delay of this bill. This Saturday is an international climate day of action. And in December the state system has its last chance to prevent run away climate change at the Copenhagen Summit. So don't hold out much hope for Canada being a strong supporter of a strong and binding agreement. The government doesn't even accept 1990 as its baseline year. Seems all the more reason to oppose the state system though we're too scared to do that aren't we.

Anyway pathetic and naive me, I actually decided to write to my MP who is Liberal and the Dear Leader Michael Ignatieff himself telling them what I think of them. If you want to reach him too you can email him at IgnatM@parl.gc.ca. Below is the message that I wrote him in case you feel like doing some cutting and pasting. I don't expect it will do much but one must still act right?


Dear Mr. Ignatieff,

I'm writing to urge you to support the passage of Bill C-311. I have read on cbc.ca that the Liberal Party is working with the Conservative Party to delay the passage of this urgent bill. Frankly this is pathetic and demonstrates that the Liberals and Conservatives present Canadians with mere mirrors of one another. No wonder Harper is riding so high in the polls. The Liberal Party of Canada has nothing to offer.

Climate change is the most important issue, period, considering that the survival of our species is at stake. Time is running out to do something to prevent runaway climate change. It seems from your party's actions that you don't share my concern. This is troubling to say the least.

This is the last straw. If this bill is not passed before the Copenhagen UN Climate Summit in December then you can forget about my support in the next federal election. I will work tirelessly in support of the only other option available to me, the federal NDP. I don't care if the Conservatives get their majority; at least they don't pretend to care about the planet. The Liberal Party is fading fast and is obviously completely out of touch with what matters to
Canadians. Good luck.

Sincerely,