Harper serious about global warming because of Cabinet shuffle?

[gerryhatrick]

So, Stephen Harper shuffles his environment minister, and the nation-wide media response is that the PM has become "green". Is a Cabinet shuffle all that's needed to be considered serious about global warming?

David Suzuki recently met with Prime Minister Harper's new environment minister John Baird. According to Suzuki, when asked if the PM accepts that global warming is taking place, Baird would not give him a straight answer. In a government so clearly controlled by the PM, are his beliefs not the central indicator of what real action will come?

In 2002, Stephen Harper said the greenhouse effect is just a "scientific hypothesis" for which there is only "preliminary evidence." He said global warming is "fun for a few scientific and environmental elites in Ottawa," but the benefits of taking action against global warming would be "negligible."

In 2004, Harper said, "The science is still evolving." In truth, the only science still evolving at that point was the pseudo-science of the denial industry.

In late 2006, Harper referred to "so-called greenhouse gases." Usually something is qualified with a "so-called" preface only when the validity is in question.

It should be very clear to Canadians where their new government stands on the issue of global warming.

http://www.thehilltimes.ca/html/index.php?...22/letter3/&c=1

And just today they pulled out the "3 E's".

This government is beyond pathetic on this issue. I've NEVER heard Stephen Harper acknowledge global warming, and now he's Mr. Green?

Nah, don't think so.

[jbg]

And just today they pulled out the "3 E's".

This government is beyond pathetic on this issue. I've NEVER heard Stephen Harper acknowledge global warming, and now he's Mr. Green?

Nah, don't think so.

Harper's trying a bit of a delicate straddle. See letter below article GH posted (link):

Monique Roffey

Winchester, Ont.

* I'm writing regarding the direction this country is taking concerning the Kyoto Accord (i.e. global warming, greenhouse emissions, the environment, etc.). Firstly, although I am concerned about the future of our planet, like most Canadians, I am tired of politicians who for years have done nothing but flap their gums.

It would seem that more and more citizens and the media are now expressing skepticism to the effect that we are being conned.

The present government, under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, has it right. We should be concentrating on cleaning up our air and water, not spending huge amounts of money trying to reduce CO2 or water vapour.

The Liberals before them always seemed to go any which way the wind blew, thinking it would have bought them votes and maybe it had. I just wish Canadians would read the details before blindly following those false pied pipers.

Amazingly, many of the useful dupes who respond to polls can't remember that Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion was the environment minister for 17 months and did absolutely nothing other than increase greenhouse gas emissions faster than those Americans who the Liberals love to ridicule.

I look forward to seeing Environment Minister John Baird's environmental plan and I am glad the Conservatives are consulting environmentalists.

As for NDP Leader Jack Layton, since he's so committed to the Kyoto Protocol, perhaps he will provide the Canadian taxpayer with a comprehensive analysis of the costs and benefits of adhering to the Canadian commitment as signed by the Liberals. Specifically what will it cost in dollars? What effect will it have on business and the public? Will jobs be lost? He should be able to provide this data immediately if in fact he has done his homework.

Finally, many with whom I have spoken nailed the reasoning behind Harper's recent capitulation to the left on Kyoto as vote-pandering. Making Canadians reduce energy emissions will prove detrimental. Europe is already feeling the pain with higher energy costs and lost jobs as a result of their emissions-trading scheme. Even the science behind Kyoto is dubious, at best. The vast majority of climate scientists disagree with the eco-movement's catastrophic thesis. I suppose the Tories feel the need to roll with global warming hysteria to secure political gains.

Conrad Y. Levesque

Kanata, Ont.

[Fortunata]

Harper is not green. Harper needs votes and he's at least smart enough to read the writing on the wall. Of course, if he were really smart, he would have anticipated that writing before Ambrose rolled out that do nothing for years clean air act. But the pit bull is now got the file, he'll no doubt get something going even if he doesn't believe in it.

[hiti]

I hear that "Green" Steve is ready to become a women. LOLOL

http://www.thestar.com/Life/article/174975

[Canadian Blue]

And just today they pulled out the "3 E's".

This government is beyond pathetic on this issue. I've NEVER heard Stephen Harper acknowledge global warming, and now he's Mr. Green?

Nah, don't think so.

Kind of like how the Liberal's have suddenly turned into the party of environmental action after some polls showed that people had environment pegged as the number one issue in the polls.

The only parties that can have a claim of being truly concerned about the environment are the NDP and the Green Party.

[tml12]

I hear that "Green" Steve is ready to become a women. LOLOL

http://www.thestar.com/Life/article/174975

The left-wing Toronto Star can publish all the anti-Harper propaganda they want it does not change from the fact that he is the best choice to govern Canada.

[Fortunata]

...he is the best choice to govern Canada.

Speaking for yourself of course. To each their own.

[Ricki Bobbi]

I hear that "Green" Steve is ready to become a women. LOLOL

http://www.thestar.com/Life/article/174975

The left-wing Toronto Star can publish all the anti-Harper propaganda they want it does not change from the fact that he is the best choice to govern Canada.

That has got to be the strangest and most disrespectful column I have ever read.

I guess it was supposed to be sarcasm, but it didn't really work. It wasn't funny, coherent or well-written.

Obviously Harper is focusing on the environment now. It has become the key issue.

Didn't the Star chastise Harper for getting political advice from Canada's Greenest Prime Minister, i.e. Brian Mulroney. Couldn't it be that he accepted Mulroney's advice on the issue and has started to act on it?

Man I swear if it weren't for Chantal Hébert I would never read that p.o.s. paper.

Here's Hébert's rational analysis of Harper's environmental move from today's Star.

Still, by handing the file to a more effective minister, by carpet-bombing the country with green announcements and, possibly, by playing an active role in a new international coalition on climate change, chances are the Prime Minister will manage to neutralize the environment as a cutting-edge issue in the next election.

[tml12]

I hear that "Green" Steve is ready to become a women. LOLOL

http://www.thestar.com/Life/article/174975

The left-wing Toronto Star can publish all the anti-Harper propaganda they want it does not change from the fact that he is the best choice to govern Canada.

That has got to be the strangest and most disrespectful column I have ever read.

I guess it was supposed to be sarcasm, but it didn't really work. It wasn't funny, coherent or well-written.

Obviously Harper is focusing on the environment now. It has become the key issue.

Didn't the Star chastise Harper for getting political advice from Canada's Greenest Prime Minister, i.e. Brian Mulroney. Couldn't it be that he accepted Mulroney's advice on the issue and has started to act on it?

Man I swear if it weren't for Chantal Hébert I would never read that p.o.s. paper.

Here's Hébert's rational analysis of Harper's environmental move from today's Star.

Still, by handing the file to a more effective minister, by carpet-bombing the country with green announcements and, possibly, by playing an active role in a new international coalition on climate change, chances are the Prime Minister will manage to neutralize the environment as a cutting-edge issue in the next election.

Ricki Bobbi,

The Star and the CBC and the Toronto Liberal elite have been undermining Harper since he was elected PM. Their grip on power has been stymied with the CPC election victory. The problem for us is, they have a lot of power and control the media.

I have a feeling it will be a tough campaign next time around and I hope Harper squeaks out a majority victory.

[Ricki Bobbi]

Ricki Bobbi,

The Star and the CBC and the Toronto Liberal elite have been undermining Harper since he was elected PM. Their grip on power has been stymied with the CPC election victory. The problem for us is, they have a lot of power and control the media.

I have a feeling it will be a tough campaign next time around and I hope Harper squeaks out a majority victory.

I understand that, but this column crosses every line.

Power to The Star. A private organization is more than free to print crap like this. Just sorta sad they try and portray themselves as somehow respectable...

If Hébert is correct and the Conservatives can neutralize the issue then they will be clear favourites going into the next election.

[tml12]

Ricki Bobbi,

The Star and the CBC and the Toronto Liberal elite have been undermining Harper since he was elected PM. Their grip on power has been stymied with the CPC election victory. The problem for us is, they have a lot of power and control the media.

I have a feeling it will be a tough campaign next time around and I hope Harper squeaks out a majority victory.

I understand that, but this column crosses every line.

Power to The Star. A private organization is more than free to print crap like this. Just sorta sad they try and portray themselves as somehow respectable...

If Hébert is correct and the Conservatives can neutralize the issue then they will be clear favourites going into the next election.

Wikipedia describes The Star as "proudly Liberal."

They don't even give such an honour to the NY Times.

[Ricki Bobbi]

Wikipedia describes The Star as "proudly Liberal."

They don't even give such an honour to the NY Times.

IIRC correctly *proudly Liberal* is an unofficial slocal of the Star.

About the NY Times (from the same Wikipedia article).

The paper finds room for left-leaning columnists and op-ed commentators who would be consigned to more marginal publications or websites in the United States.

[Who's Doing What?]

Quoting from Wikipedia.

Didn't Colbert teach you guys anything???

[hiti]

Quoting from Wikipedia.

Didn't Colbert teach you guys anything???

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh. It's too funny reading Wikipedia as the conservative gospel.

[Ricki Bobbi]

Quoting from Wikipedia.

Didn't Colbert teach you guys anything???

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh. It's too funny reading Wikipedia as the conservative gospel.

Uhh, maybe both you jerks should read the context of the quote from Wikipedia. Are either of you denying the veracity of the quote???

The Star has used *Proudly Liberal* as an unofficial motto for year. It was in Zerb's blog a couple weeks ago even.

I'm not surprised that either of you turned it into a chance to attack.

WDW attacked me over it because his obsession with me is just strange and creepy. He has been warned about it, yet keeps on going.

Hiti, Wikipedia is conservative gospel??? wtf?

[margrace]

Oh come on Harper has an agenda, he has made that plain over the years and anyone simple enough not to see it needs to open their ears. He is a control freak for one thing, he wants to be a contolling prime minister in the worst way. He will do anything and say anything right now that he sees as a venue to get those votes. Like othere people I know the means justifys the end and Ambrose is just an example of what will happen to anyone even McKay who happens to get in his way.

It all hinges on how stupid the Canadian electorate is.

[tml12]

Oh come on Harper has an agenda, he has made that plain over the years and anyone simple enough not to see it needs to open their ears. He is a control freak for one thing, he wants to be a contolling prime minister in the worst way. He will do anything and say anything right now that he sees as a venue to get those votes. Like othere people I know the means justifys the end and Ambrose is just an example of what will happen to anyone even McKay who happens to get in his way.

It all hinges on how stupid the Canadian electorate is.

In voting Liberal, the Canadian electorate will in fact show how stupid they are.

[kimmy]

Polls indicated that a large number of Canadians were very unhappy with the previous attempt at an environmental policy. Harper has responded by putting a more aggressive environmental policy in place, in an obvious attempt at gaining popular support. Politician gives public what public says it wants so that they might vote for him next election. Wooo. Scary. Isn't that how democracy is supposed to work?

Paul Martin wouldn't even a crap without consulting a poll first, and his boosters praised him for "heeding the voice of the public" or some such platitude. Harper changes his policy to react to public opinion for basically the first time in his tenure, and suddenly reacting to public opinion to try to please the public is diabolical, Machiavellian schemery of the most cynical order.

I am a Harper supporter, and I was deeply disappointed that they attempted to half-ass a limp environmental policy instead of making a bold and positive statement the first time around. I'm somewhat pleased that they're at least trying to correct that mistake, although it would have been much better if they'd done a credible job the first time around.

-k

[HoratioCaine]

This government is beyond pathetic on this issue. I've NEVER heard Stephen Harper acknowledge global warming, and now he's Mr. Green?

Nah, don't think so.

I hear what you're saying, but at least he's pretending to care now, so maybe he won't do as much damage as I thought in the short time between now and when we get another majority.

[Ricki Bobbi]

I hear what you're saying, but at least he's pretending to care now, so maybe he won't do as much damage as I thought in the short time between now and when we get another majority.

Couldn't be more damage than the Liberals did in 13 years of sitting on their asses while in Government.

Then again it will probably be longer than 13 years until the Liberals get another majority.

Thank heaven....

[Canadian Blue]

Oh come on Harper has an agenda, he has made that plain over the years and anyone simple enough not to see it needs to open their ears. He is a control freak for one thing, he wants to be a contolling prime minister in the worst way. He will do anything and say anything right now that he sees as a venue to get those votes. Like othere people I know the means justifys the end and Ambrose is just an example of what will happen to anyone even McKay who happens to get in his way.

It all hinges on how stupid the Canadian electorate is.

So Harper is no different then any other PM in the past 30 years?

I like how people like to have such an immense fear over nothing, I haven't seen anything "extreme" coming from Harper. People that say so are just a bunch of partisan hacks, no different then the ones who say that Dion will destroy our economy.

I thought most Canadian's wanted Ambrose replaced, and were'nt the opposition parties calling for her to be replaced.

The most extreme thing I have heard in the past decade is this promise. "As Prime Minister I will remove the notwithstanding clause from the constitution", and that came from a Liberal.

[Saturn]

Polls indicated that a large number of Canadians were very unhappy with the previous attempt at an environmental policy. Harper has responded by putting a more aggressive environmental policy in place, in an obvious attempt at gaining popular support. Politician gives public what public says it wants so that they might vote for him next election. Wooo. Scary. Isn't that how democracy is supposed to work?

When politician cancels programs which he calls useless and do-nothing and then brings them back, wooo, that's stupid. When was politician lying - when he said that the programs do nothing or when he brings them back as his fix for the environment?

[Topaz]

It looks like the Canadian people know more about the environment and the damages being done by global warming then Harper and the rest of his gang do!! Maybe he should listen to "coasttocoastAM" or visit Art Bell's website to read why the pros are saying the the US. Everyone knows this is for a "majority" govt in the next election.

[jbg]

That has got to be the strangest and most disrespectful column I have ever read.

I guess it was supposed to be sarcasm, but it didn't really work. It wasn't funny, coherent or well-written.

I think we have to be consistent on issues involving use of humor (link). This piece is so obviously sarcastic and satirical that no one would mistake it for "news".

[jbg]

So Harper is no different then any other PM in the past 30 years?

I think Harper's quite different. As different as he can afford to be and still stand a snowball's chance of leading the CPC to a majority.