The New Environmental Policy

[jdobbin]

The Conservatives will be introducing a new environmental policy in the next few weeks.

Much of the focus by most accounts will be air pollution. Canada has reduced its air pollution by 75% since 1970 according to the National Post. The Conservatives will be spending $2 billion on further reducing air emissions. Is the best use of the new money budgeted or should the government be doing something else?

[Remiel]

I suspect maybe that if they are devoting money to cleaning up the air, assuming they aren't trying to deflect attention from global warming, it is because of the recent news that the ozone layer is beginning to replenish. It would be a sure fire way of showing they were doing *something* for the environment by added money to do something that is being proven to work. Ultimately, I imagine it would be easier to live with the consequences of a warmer or colder world than it would with a world where the very sun is intensely deadly to everything. All those concerns about everyone having to wear UV protection suits and such outside, are finally going to be put to rest.

[jdobbin]

Ambrose appeared to backtrack on the emissions standards.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...0922?hub=Canada

The Conservatives are stumbling along with this issue compared with others they manage.

And this just in today, Ozone hole is second widest ever at the South Pole.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14959336/

[cybercoma]

The "Green Peace" types will just switch gears. First it was the ozone later, which is evidently no longer a problem, so now they're saying it's greenhouse gas emissions we need to worry about. Once that goes the way of the ozone scare, they'll switch gears again. They're simply looking for a way to bash corporations and globalization, which is why the founder quit.

Anyway, the point being...in their eyes, Harper won't be able to do enough, unless of course he dismantles every corporation.

[jdobbin]

The "Green Peace" types will just switch gears. First it was the ozone later, which is evidently no longer a problem, so now they're saying it's greenhouse gas emissions we need to worry about. Once that goes the way of the ozone scare, they'll switch gears again. They're simply looking for a way to bash corporations and globalization, which is why the founder quit.

Anyway, the point being...in their eyes, Harper won't be able to do enough, unless of course he dismantles every corporation.

I think if Harper is able to announce policies that will actually help with the filthy air and water in many parts of the country, he might be able to win over those ordinary people who are indeed concerned about those things.

[cybercoma]

I think if Harper is able to announce policies that will actually help with the filthy air and water in many parts of the country, he might be able to win over those ordinary people who are indeed concerned about those things.

The message will always be hijacked. People will always follow -- because they don't want to appear "insensitive" -- without realizing that these 'environmental groups' are more anti-everything corporate than pro-ecology.

[B. Max]

Ambrose appeared to backtrack on the emissions standards.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...0922?hub=Canada

The Conservatives are stumbling along with this issue compared with others they manage.

And this just in today, Ozone hole is second widest ever at the South Pole.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14959336/

Actually the first time they ever looked they found a hole. For all they know it's always been there. It's size is dependant on the temperature. I guess that dispels the myth again, of man made global warming.

[geoffrey]

Max you'll never convince the masses, but oh well.

The point is, Canada has alot of toxic sites and heavily polluted areas... to the extent that thousands are dying unnecessarily of cancers and asthma, so many kids have asthma in Southern Ontario (all of my sisters and my brother have it, I assumed I got away from it because I lived the shortest time in the GTA).

These are real issues, killing people, right now. People are suffering from these environmental issues as we read this. More are getting cancer because of their exposure, right now. Let's deal with those, then worry about some hole in the sky that may or may not have been there before.

The ridiculous attitude of sending our money overseas to meet some quota while people die at home is a horrendous result of politiking, and hopefully history scorns such people greatly. Ask those living near the Sydney Tar Ponds, Hamilton Harbour (Dioxins), or the Benzene releases in natural gas flaring in rural areas across the country (it's banned in Texas, before it has been here, very sad).

How about the massive amount of contraceptive medication that has entered the drinking water, one of the few substances that is a Group 1 IARC carcinogen? If people knowingly expose themselves to this massive cancer risk, so be it (I don't think many docs tell them that it's comparable to asbestos or benzene, but that's their deal, not mine), but the hell if I should be exposed to it turning on my taps.

Let's deal with these real issues that are going to kill all of us nearly for certain. Once they've been resolved, then throw away money to whatever cause Greenpeace or Sierra supports that hour of the day.

[jdobbin]

Actually the first time they ever looked they found a hole. For all they know it's always been there. It's size is dependant on the temperature. I guess that dispels the myth again, of man made global warming.

So should the Conservatives scrap the department of the environment to make a point to liberals out there?

[Topaz]

The minister thinks hitting the auto section will help the air. Yes, will alittle, the auto aren't the prime pollution of the air. We know alot comes from the US, industry and what Alberta is doing with the oil sands. What she will do is hurt the auto industry that is left in Canada and probably drive it out of Canada to a Third country! Would Harper govt help the auto industry if was in the diffuculty that the farmer's are in. I don't think so! People will keep their auto have have and not buy a new because of the increase prices! I think she should br replaced! I've watch her on C-pac and she can't do the job or Harper doesn't want to spend the money on this!

[Argus]

The minister thinks hitting the auto section will help the air. Yes, will alittle, the auto aren't the prime pollution of the air. We know alot comes from the US, industry and what Alberta is doing with the oil sands. What she will do is hurt the auto industry that is left in Canada and probably drive it out of Canada to a Third country!

Ahm, has it occured to you that any emission standards would apply to ALL new cars, wherever they are built?

I'm all for improving auto emission standards if done logically. For example, if anti-pollution systems cut into fuel efficiency they could actually hurt rather than help, as you would use more fuel to get from place to place. I'm also for controls on industrial pollution, be it air, land or water.

[geoffrey]

The minister thinks hitting the auto section will help the air. Yes, will alittle, the auto aren't the prime pollution of the air. We know alot comes from the US, industry and what Alberta is doing with the oil sands. What she will do is hurt the auto industry that is left in Canada and probably drive it out of Canada to a Third country!

Ahm, has it occured to you that any emission standards would apply to ALL new cars, wherever they are built?

I'm all for improving auto emission standards if done logically. For example, if anti-pollution systems cut into fuel efficiency they could actually hurt rather than help, as you would use more fuel to get from place to place. I'm also for controls on industrial pollution, be it air, land or water.

The big issue here Argus... the only acceptable target of pollution controls is Alberta from the perspective of the voting base in Canada.

That's why we see Ignatieff ready with his NEP II plan ready to go, and why Ontario voters get so defensive when they realise their pollution is killing people today, forcing people to live with asthma and maybe their auto industry needs to see the first major pollution controls.

The fact is the auto industry is about to do great in Canada, with Toyota and Honda opening plants. GM, Ford... they're dying because of government handouts, they've become horribly inefficient organizations. They deserve the slow degradation that they are facing, and the solution isn't to bail them out yet again.