Mulroney says: "It's the environment, stupid!"

[August1991]

The government's Clean Air Act must be beefed up if the Tories hope to win over crucial middle class voters, former prime minister Brian Mulroney says.

In an interview with CBC News, Mulroney, who was recently awarded the title of the greenest prime minister in history, described the act as the beginning of a plan and said to capture the imagination of voters, it needs more work before the next election.

Brian Mulroney was crowned the greenest PM in a survey by Corporate Knights magazine of high-profile environmentalists earlier this year.

"And I think there is more work to be done on that, both substantively and 'presentationally', and my guess [is] that is where the government is heading," he said.

CBC

I agree, and I've said so before. Harper has entrusted his chances for re-election with Ambrose. He should give her more help.

On a superficial level, the environment is like teeth. If they look clean, they're alright. But voters are suspicious of dentists. [On another level, the environment won't beat taxes, house prices and pay raises.]

For the moment however - given low nominal interest rates, high real interest rates, rising stock market prices, falling unemployment rates - parents and grandparents are thinking of children and grandchildren.

For the moment, the environment matters and Harper has an Ace up his sleeve. Harper delivers. Dion doesn't.

[mikedavid00]

For the moment however - given low nominal interest rates, high real interest rates, rising stock market prices, falling unemployment rates - parents and grandparents are thinking of children and grandchildren.

For the moment, the environment matters and Harper has an Ace up his sleeve. Harper delivers. Dion doesn't.

True.

I can assure anyone that people don't care about what they don't understand. What voters DO understand is that they recieved a $100 cheque in the mail each month to help out with their family. The do know that when the go the checkout they save money and will save more.

The media does a really poor job at explaining Kyoto and environment issues. Pseudo intellectuals are the ones who love to talk about the environment.

[Technocrat]

For the moment however - given low nominal interest rates, high real interest rates, rising stock market prices, falling unemployment rates - parents and grandparents are thinking of children and grandchildren.

For the moment, the environment matters and Harper has an Ace up his sleeve. Harper delivers. Dion doesn't.

True.

I can assure anyone that people don't care about what they don't understand. What voters DO understand is that they recieved a $100 cheque in the mail each month to help out with their family. The do know that when the go the checkout they save money and will save more.

The media does a really poor job at explaining Kyoto and environment issues. Pseudo intellectuals are the ones who love to talk about the environment.

Ummm what exactly is the 'ace' up his sleeve?

Is that the best the CPC can come up with... mail people their own money back... wow... very 'fresh' and 'innovative'

Umbrose is a freakin joke... she doesn't even show up to meetings... my brother works in the ministry of the environment and people are starting to wonder why she is always a no show at meetings... word is she said that they 'are boring because all they do is talk about policy'... I am not kidding.

I will give the CPC that they introduced sticter regulations on toxic chemicals... however that is hardly groundbreaking... the EU did the same thing this week.

[mikedavid00]

I will give the CPC that they introduced sticter regulations on toxic chemicals... however that is hardly groundbreaking... the EU did the same thing this week.

And what did the Libeals do in 12 years?

Exactly.

[geoffrey]

I will give the CPC that they introduced sticter regulations on toxic chemicals... however that is hardly groundbreaking... the EU did the same thing this week.

And what did the Libeals do in 12 years?

Exactly.

That's why Dion can't campaign on environment, eventually Canadians will wake up to the complete failure he and his party were in that regard. The Liberals cannot be voted for if you care about the environment, the CPC... well, if you hold your nose maybe.

[August1991]

Ummm what exactly is the 'ace' up his sleeve?

Ummm, a promise to reduce the GST means the GST is in fact reduced.

Imagine that!

Stéphane Dion was part of a government (indeed Dion belongs to an entire theory) which believes that the perception of reality is in fact reality. (Stéphane Dion is a French sociologist.)

----

Harper has tremendous credibility on the environment. He delivers. Harper also has "crossover" credibility.

Dion can play the watermelon (green/red) card but it won't work. First, Dion's a Quebec academic who cares far more about federalism and the constitution than about the environment. (You want a united Canada? Dion's your go-to-guy.) Second, if the environment really matters, Dion had his kick at the can for 10 years but did nothing. Third, Quebecers have hydropower - so of course Dion wants to tax CO2. If Quebec had to pay that tax, Dion would argue differently.

To Liberals (Kinsella/Chretien), the environment is a PR problem. The solution is the the Rick Mercer One Tonne Challenge.

Liberals are fair weather friends.

[Technocrat]

Ummm what exactly is the 'ace' up his sleeve?

Ummm, a promise to reduce the GST means the GST is in fact reduced.

Imagine that!

Stéphane Dion was part of a government (indeed Dion belongs to an entire theory) which believes that the perception of reality is in fact reality. (Stéphane Dion is a French sociologist.)

----

Harper has tremendous credibility on the environment. He delivers. Harper also has "crossover" credibility.

Dion can play the watermelon (green/red) card but it won't work. First, Dion's a Quebec academic who cares far more about federalism and the constitution than about the environment. (You want a united Canada? Dion's your go-to-guy.) Second, if the environment really matters, Dion had his kick at the can for 10 years but did nothing. Third, Quebecers have hydropower - so of course Dion wants to tax CO2. If Quebec had to pay that tax, Dion would argue differently.

To Liberals (Kinsella/Chretien), the environment is a PR problem. The solution is the the Rick Mercer One Tonne Challenge.

Liberals are fair weather friends.

lol tremendous credibility?! I call bullshit. The 'clean air' act was a freakin joke. It was basically laughed out of parliment... not exactly credible.

I admit... the liberals completely dropped the ball. Unfortunately the CPC has yet to show anything tangible.

[jdobbin]

Ummm, a promise to reduce the GST means the GST is in fact reduced.

Harper promised to not tax income trusts. In fact, they are taxed. Imagine that.

How exactly is Harper's environmental plan working?

[watching&waiting]

The clean air act does infact address all the environmental concerns over a 50 year period. Since the Global warming is a 100 year problem, then a 50 year solution is really pretty good. The solution is also easily achieved. The environmentalists of today only want to see answers where people and economies suffer, as part of the solution, and that is just plain wrong. You will not find anyone who is in the scientific community that will say that if all the targets are met with the clean air act, that it will not make a difference. All they can say is that it takes too long, and what if it does not meet its targets, then it will only be 50 more years to when there is a problem. People need to remember the global warming problems are not in the here and now, but they are 100 years down the road. The targets for harmful pollutants will do more for the here and now then anything all the other have suggested.

I can say with much confidence that the goals of the Clean Air Act are quite attainable and if all are reached the 100 year problem will become a 300 year or longer problem. That to me is about all I feel my generation is responsible for. Man and his environmental issues will never go away but they will be pushed farther and farther off into the future by each generation of people. Only if new and very advanced technologies are created will we be able to eliminate it all together.

[Remiel]

You're right, global warming is a 100 year problem. Except what we do today is what affects the problem in 100 years. What we do in 50 years affects the problem in 150 years.

[watching&waiting]

You are wrong on that what is done today will be 100 years before we see results. If you take the time to read the doom and gloom that the environmentalists say. Is if we escalate at the same rate as we are now doing each year for the next 100 years such and such will happen. So if we do meet the goals of the Clean Air Act where we have reduced emmissions to 1990 levels by the year 2050, then we will have not only reverse the direction of escalation but we will be reversing it. So the dates for allthe catastrophies will be even further off then the 100 years it is now off by. This is why the environmentalists have skued their data and are for ever changing their positions. For example for their predictions we would have to increase as much for each year, for the next 100 years. But they never tell you that yes we ahve had some years where things have been much less and the warming has reversed. They also forget to say that any number of natures own events can change the table completely.

[M.Dancer]

The environment is a dangerous issue to campaign on. People won't give a damn about Global warming if it's minus 20 out, or if summer is ideal.

[M.Dancer]

Rona "Hardwarehelmethead" Ambrose is done. She will be moved to a portfolio more suited to her ....ummm....qualifications.

[kimmy]

her ....ummm....qualifications.

"her ....ummm....qualifications"?

-k

[M.Dancer]

her ....ummm....qualifications.

"her ....ummm....qualifications"?

-k

Minister for repeating clients press releases.

[mikedavid00]

The environment is a dangerous issue to campaign on. People won't give a damn about Global warming if it's minus 20 out, or if summer is ideal.

lol..

The sky is falling!

The sky is falling!

Everyone vote liberal because the Sky is falling!

[myata]

I doubt Harper has a lot of credibility on the environment, or Malroney would'n need to come out with such a strong address. I also doubt that people keep a copy of the Clean Air act for constant reference. It all comes down to residual perception. In my case (I can't speak for others), environmental policies of the previous Liberal government associate with (correct) "One tonne challenge", Energuide programs (rebates for efficiency renovations) and 30% upsurge of emissions. Sounds like half harted attempts at getting something for nothing. Now, Harpers present government CAA is firmly linked (again, in my memory only) to that figure, 2050. So, both are tied with the lacking of will to act immediately and strongly.

Now, if a new leader comes forward with a strong envirnmental program, and a commitment to act, I somehow feel that people just may give him a chance.

[mikedavid00]

You're right, global warming is a 100 year problem. Except what we do today is what affects the problem in 100 years. What we do in 50 years affects the problem in 150 years.

Thus 2050 year targets.

Or I know, DION is going to fix the worlds problems!

Please Dion, save the world!

[watching&waiting]

Well let me ask you just why we need to act quickly and strongly? The problem is not really going to harm us for 100 years, and I plan on being dead by then, and also if the plan can be reached in 44 years without high costs and hardship, why do we need to suffer today for it. There is no need to act quickly or strongly in any of this. Every sciantist in this will say exactly the same thing as to the timing. It is only the alarmist environmentalists that seek quick action, while they can because if you take time to read and understand it, there is no need for such actions in the scale they claim.

[jdobbin]

Rona "Hardwarehelmethead" Ambrose is done. She will be moved to a portfolio more suited to her ....ummm....qualifications.

CBC Radio was reporting today that a cabinet shuffle is expected and Ambrose might be dropped from cabinet.

[blueblood]

Rona "Hardwarehelmethead" Ambrose is done. She will be moved to a portfolio more suited to her ....ummm....qualifications.

CBC Radio was reporting today that a cabinet shuffle is expected and Ambrose might be dropped from cabinet.

She's a lot more qualified than most other CPC MP's for a cabinet position and should remain in cabinet to balance out the whole gender thing, it's too bad she got skewered on the whole environment thing, a different portfolio will be huge...

[Remiel]

I hope you don't have any children, with an attitude like that, W2.

[jdobbin]

She's a lot more qualified than most other CPC MP's for a cabinet position and should remain in cabinet to balance out the whole gender thing, it's too bad she got skewered on the whole environment thing, a different portfolio will be huge...

It was mentioned again at the top of the hour on CBC radio and the name bandied about to replace her is Jim Prentice.

[myata]

Well let me ask you just why we need to act quickly and strongly? The problem is not really going to harm us for 100 years, and I plan on being dead by then, and also if the plan can be reached in 44 years without high costs and hardship, why do we need to suffer today for it. There is no need to act quickly or strongly in any of this. Every sciantist in this will say exactly the same thing as to the timing. It is only the alarmist environmentalists that seek quick action, while they can because if you take time to read and understand it, there is no need for such actions in the scale they claim.

Because:

1) in 44 years (of limited action) situation will have much greater chance of getting to the point where changes will become irreversible (or even runaway, as in some models);

2) because waiting for obvious effects of climate change to show to start reacting would probably be too late and cost uncountable times more to manage (imagine a ball tipped off a top of a hill; it takes a lot less to keep it in the balance than to stop it when it's already gathered the momentum).

3) society has certain inertia, it takes persistence and committment (and time) to overcome it;

4) fossil based economy's time is counted and it pays in the long run to develop next generation power technologies which will lay foundation for future prosperity;

But most of all, it's a matter of perception. Middle class is quite confident in their present prosperity and is anxious to preserve at least some of it for their children. Conservatives programme just does live up to the expectation.

[geoffrey]

her ....ummm....qualifications.

"her ....ummm....qualifications"?

-k

Minister for repeating clients press releases.

Just like the Liberals did on environment?