Can this be Canada’s first "green election"?

Monday, September 8th, 2008

Former Prime Minister Kim Campbell once famously remarked that elections are no time at all for the discussion of serious issues. So how will serious environmental issues be presented in this campaign? Some political parties are already insisting that environmental protection be a central campaign topic. At the same time, the media consortium and political opponents have prevented unelected party leader Elizabeth May from appearing in the televised Leaders’ Debate. Environment F report card

Can this election be a moment for Canadians to express a deeper commitment to preserve and protect the ecology?

Polling firm Angus Reid asked over 1,000 Canadians to name their most compelling issue as they face a federal election. The environment was named by 61% of respondents, suggesting that this concern is among the three most crucial issues for Canadians.

The need to care for creation is growing stronger daily as we see clear evidence of climate change—in melting ice caps, warmer winters and the rapid loss of forests and biodiversity. Preserving and protecting all creation is an unmistakably important role for citizens to play. Indeed, climate change has become the most pressing environmental concern and a telling way to gauge the seriousness of political parties’ environmental platforms.

But since there is bad news to report, will our political leaders show the fortitude necessary to lead Canadians to change? In terms of consumption, we need to take stock and lessen our use of energy. Canada makes up less than one half of one percent of the world's population, but is the world's eighth largest producer of carbon dioxide. Canadians use more energy than all of the 760 million inhabitants of Africa.

And Canada has a dismal climate change record. In 2002, Canada committed to the Kyoto Accord, agreeing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by six per cent below 1990 levels by 2012. But after making this momentous commitment, successive governments failed to act. In a 2002 letter to supporters, current Prime Minister Stephen Harper even dismissively referred to the Kyoto Accord as “a socialist scheme.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly then, by 2006, emission levels were 32.7 per cent higher than our Kyoto targets. If we don’t fulfill our Kyoto commitment now, the question becomes: how much more difficult will caring for creation be in the future? On the world stage, Canada is far from being seen as a global environmental leader. The withdrawal from Kyoto and reticence to sign a new international agreement at the Bali Climate Change Conference last December caused environmentalists to brand Canada (along with the USA and Japan) as “fossils.”

Many Canadians can think back, in their own lifetimes, to a pristine place where they used to swim or enjoy the outdoors, and that place is now no longer safe or available due to environmental destruction. Christians believe that the earth and all life in it is a gift from God. As part of creation, human beings need to recognize our place within it, and that we have no right to terminally destroy what was meant to exist for all, and for all generations. A public justice lens sees the common good as including effective action for environmental protection.

The environmental debate in an election period often is tied to economics. Opponents of strict environmental measures fear that “going green” will hurt our economy. Proponents argue that environmental policies can encourage innovative economic reforms, and failure to act could cause economic harm. Environmental issues are now closely linked to economic development and debates about fair taxation.

The Liberal Party has presented a “Green Shift” proposal, which has become a lightening rod for criticism due to the complications involved. Essentially, the “Green Shift” argues that all political jurisdictions will inevitably move to set a price on carbon emissions, but the policy purports to avoid an increase in taxes by shifting relief to those who conserve.

The weakest criticism arises from those who automatically oppose all new taxes. But the complications involved in the issue are worthy of good debate. It is important to consider tax fairness, and raise issues about how the poor, northern and rural residents, workers displaced from “dirty” industries and others could be affected. For their part, the New Democratic Party advocates making the biggest polluters pay (through a cap and trade system), while the Conservatives similarly promise tough measures against producers of greenhouse gases, promising to reduce emissions levels by 20% by 2020.

Care for creation is a serious issue for Canadians, one that CPJ will address from a public justice and sustainability perspective as the election proceeds.

Questions for candidates