Harper, Dion, Layton: Jumping on the Environmental Trampoline

It's amazing what a little bad weather and a by-election can accomplish. In November, a major rainstorm in Vancouver contaminated water reservoirs and forced a million residents to deal with a 12-day boil water advisory (never mind the fact that BWA's are a sad fact of life in dozens of native communities across Canada). Then, just a day after the Vancouver BWA was lifted, Green Party leader Elizabeth May posted a stunning second place finish in the London North Centre by-election. While the actual voter turnout in that election was disappointing, May took 25% of the votes, clobbering both the Conservative and NDP candidates. She didn't win, but she decisively proved the Green Party is now a political force to be reckoned with. As May observed "we have just witnessed... the beginning of a major shift in Canadian politics. Canada is going Green." She -- and many others -- expect to see at least one GP member in the House after the next federal election.

This renewed focus on the Greens and green politics has the major party leaders falling all over each other to see who can jump highest on the environmental trampoline. With his greenest good intentions, Stephan Dion can at least say he actually sorta did something when the Liberals signed the Kyoto Accord while he was Chretien's Environment Minister. Unfortunately, as we all know, the Libs never backed up that signature with meaningful action. A few days ago, Jack Layton graciously offered to work together with the other leaders to rewrite Harper's failed Green Plan, although a mere 6 weeks ago, he was all set to force a confidence vote over the issue. Yesterday Harper told the Canadian Press that the environment issue is now his "top priority". "We have to point out why the environment is a priority for the public", he arrogantly condescended. I think we get it Mr. Harper, we're just wondering how your wonky tax cuts and oils sands subsidies are going to help.

Wouldn't it be grand if the major parties did sit down and formulate a comprehensive set of tax changes and regulations that would drastically reduce greenhouse gases and emissions? I expect it would look something like the Green Party's GP² Green Plan. Elizabeth May has stated in the past that the Greens would be happy to support any political party that could enact such a plan. It would be a fine thing, but it is hard to be optimistic because for Harper, Dion and Layton, the environment is merely an issue, a portfolio, a file. It is something that must simply be handled for political survival and electoral gain.

For the Greens, however, the environment is everything. It's fundamental and determines the kind of economy and the level of health that is actually possible.

That's why I'm voting for Green in the next election.