This is the new reality in Canada after five years of Harper’s control; there is now a deliberate and consistent attempt to keep environmental concerns out of the election discussions. This despite the fact that Canadians consistently rank environmental concerns at the top, or near the top, of their concerns.
Of course, Canadians know that Elizabeth May was barred from participating in the election debate on television, despite the fact that her party garnered nearly 0ne million votes in the last election. It seems the old boys club felt threatened by her articulate and interesting performance at the last debate. But it goes beyond just shutting May out of the mainstream media. In an article in today’s Toronto Star, Stephen Bede Scharper from the University of Toronto, discusses how a 4th year student at Guelph University was barred from a Conservative rally after being “flagged” by an RCMP security check. As Scharper points out,
Joanna is unaffiliated with any political party, has no criminal record, and comes from a dynamic family that I have known for years. Like many Canadians, she is trying to seriously engage in the key issues of this election.
Her unfitness to participate in a democratic rally seems to be based entirely on the fact that Joanna is a member of her university’s environmental group and has attended global climate summits as a youth delegate, although this is just a guess as she has never been told by anyone in the Conservative party why she was barred.
Is this is the kind of Canada we want? I know I don’t!On May 2nd, I’m voting to get Canada, and democracy, back. How about you?
Read all of Scharper’s article: No Welcome Mat For Environmentalists
And from a 2010 column by James Travers, editor and political correspondent at the Toronto Star, who passed away last month. He was certainly on to Mr. Harper:
Imagine a country where Parliament is padlocked twice in 13 months to frustrate the democratic will of the elected majority. That country is now this country.
Imagine a country that slyly relaxes environmental regulations even as its neighbour reels from a catastrophic oil leak blamed on slack controls. That country is now this country.
Imagine a country that boasts about prudent financial management while blowing through a $13-billion surplus on the way to a $47-billion deficit. That country is now this country.
Imagine a country where a political operative puts fork-tongued words in a top general’s mouth. That country is now this country.
Imagine a country that refuses to fund the same safe abortions to poor women abroad as it provides at home. That country is now this country.
Imagine a country where the national police commissioner skews a federal election and is never forced to explain. That country is now this country.
Imagine a country that writes a covert manual on sabotaging Commons committees. That country is now this country.
Imagine a country dragging its climate change feet as the true north melts. That country is now this country.
Imagine a country that silences political debate on the sale of a publicly owned, crown jewel corporation. That country is now this country.
Imagine a country that puts higher priority on building super-prisons than keeping people out of them. That country is now this country.
Imagine a country where parties that win the most federal seats are dismissed as “losers”. That country is now this country…
And the list, unfortunately, goes on. To read the entire article go to Changing Canada, One Backward Step At a Time
For more election information that isn’t being covered by the mainstream media, check out these links:
Harper’s Goon Squads: Get Used To Them
54 Conservative Candidates Currently Skipping Election Debates
“Threat” of Federal Coalition Greeted With Outrage
And, according to Amnesty International, Canada is now a “country of concern”
And remember George Orwell’s assertion in 1984: “We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it.”
Of course Harper doesn’t want any mention of the environment. Look at his dismal record.
How many of us know about the “think tank” headed up by Bruce Carson of all people, wherein he was given $25 million to come up with ideas to improve alternative energy?
No sooner had the doors opened than the policy was reversed and became the voice in favour of big oil!
I don’t suppose that surprised anybody now, did it?
In case there is anyone who is unfamiliar with Bruce, he’s the fine upstanding citizen (Harper’s words) who is a disbarred lawyer, has done prison time, has no less than 5 fraud convictions – not just charges – but actual convictions, lives with his 20 something hooker girlfriend, and was heavily involved in a water filter scam with our Native people. Just an all round nice guy…NOT!
Thanks for filling in some of the sordid details re: Carson the Fraudster’s disreputable record, Keith.
I don’t think the two examples you cite make a pattern of anti-environmentalism. Environmentalism wasn’t the reason Elizabeth May wasn’t invited to the debate. It was because they didn’t want too many people and the Green party didn’t have any MPs. Environmentalism is only one of several reasons why the Conservatives has stopped individuals from attending their rallies.
You are entitled to your opinion, Darwin. I think it is a conscious effort on the part of all of the parties except the Bloc – for different reasons – to keep the environment in general, and climate change in particular, from becoming an issue in this election.
“there is now a deliberate and consistent attempt to keep environmental concerns out of the election discussions. This despite the fact that Canadians consistently rank environmental concerns at the top, or near the top, of their concerns.”
…this despite the fact that their is little evidence through their (Canadians) actions…
There is a reason why our elected politicians are called our “leaders” – they should be leading on this issue, but unfortunately it turns out politicians are followers, not leaders. It’s up to us to demand change.
Darwin, Elizabeth May has the support of many Canadians. Just look at the votes for the Green Party vs. the bloc. Granted, she has no seats, but she definitely has support. I doubt we will ever know the legitimate reason she wasn’t invited, perhaps something to do with making Harper squirm.
Francis, when the economy tanks, people naturally think of their families first, and the environment goes on the back burner.
But to suggest that there is little evidence through our actions to the contrary I believe to be less than accurate.
The day will come when we will have no choice BUT to put the environment first. And many among us would suggest that this day is indeed upon us. And, in fact, has been for some time.
Most of us are inclined to go along with the status quo, living in total ignorance of what is really happening to our environment. The Harper government makes no bones about it, he couldn’t care less what happens to Canadian citizens or the air we breathe.
Have you changed your buying habits over the past year, two, five years maybe? Do you care how far something travels to reach your table? Do you grow any of your own food? The list is endless, isn’t it?
Christine, whose blog this is, and my family, both use solar energy to power our houses. It isn’t difficult, and it DOES make a difference. We ALL need to step up to the plate, because the Harper government sure as heck isn’t going to.