Polarizing Around the Gas Flare Burn … or back where we started
Make no mistake, the Pembina/Suzuki paper was a landmine, I mean landmark for Canadian climate policy. It has effectively unleashed the polarity that exists between those that think action is rubbish with those that think a changing climate is dangerous.
While this has always been the case in Canada, what has changed is the Harper government. They have moved from paying lip service to action, as in the case of all previous governments, to calling action “irresponsible“.
It all changed when the Pembina/Suzuki report forced the government’s hand, through bringing out into the open the contradiction between the Government’s “target trash talk” and its policy inaction. As the Government suspected, they have been outed. See here for example,
Time for Tories to come clean on emissions
But this aside, the polarization is the real issue. This article sums it up nicely
The Harper government would argue it has no choice — because of hardship that would befall Alberta and Saskatchewan, in particular, should it take a hacksaw to GHG emissions, with national unity implications.
Meanwhile, environmental activists are arguing it’s time to stop coddling western energy-producing provinces and face up to the dire climate consequences of continued inaction.
The two sides have consolidated their respective positions in the wake of a report.
Now, those special interests who have been whispering in the PM’s ear, and quietly turning Canada into the North Korea of climate change, can safely come out to bask in the glow of the gas flares. So, we are back where we started folks. Take off your red leather ties and drop your Adidas bags, cause there is going to be another fight behind the school.
