All posts by Chris Tindal

Green Plan Schlock vs. Lovelock’s Clock

climate crisis, conservative party

You’ve probably heard that the Conservatives are currently developing their “Green Plan II” by focus group. Apparently someone told them that this “environment stuff” is really popular right now. (That’s not a joke — it is, and there are a number of indications that Harper’s real number one priority is upgrading his government to a majority.)

Let’s just ignore the fact that focus groups are no way to lead. Oh, and the fact that the government is paying for it instead of the Conservative party. (Really? Do I have to ignore that? Ok…)

I wish I held out hope that this plan will be much more than a greenwash, but I don’t. And I’d be more specific if we were allowed to see the details, but we’re not. All we know for sure is that polluters are going to have a big say, that regulations are most likely going to voluntary, and that the plan will focus on air pollution instead of climate change (aka, the biggest threat facing our country in the foreseeable future).

We also know that the plan could take five years to develop and come into effect. Now, I don’t mean to be alarmist, but maybe they should read James Lovelock. The clock is ticking folks.

The Globe Spins Around

economy, trade

Want to read something strange? Pick up a copy of today’s Globe And Mail and check out the editorial titled The unwelcome landing of another U.S. penalty. The Globe is now “appalled” at how NAFTA is working (or, rather, not working) for our country:

Not again…What are the Americans doing? … Canada cannot win … This is appalling. Whatever happened to the consultations that NAFTA was supposed to foster? … [This] is a terrible way to treat a neighbour.

Uh, yeah, ok. Except that earlier this week the Globe said that Elizabeth May was “off to a bad start” for making the “extreme” suggestion “that the North American free-trade agreement is not working.” Instead, the Globe said, Elizabeth should be focusing on “real issues.”

How do we reconcile this apparent contradiction? Obviously, the only possible conclusion is that Elizabeth, myself, and at least three other letter writers have managed to sway the Globe’s editorial board in less than a week. Good for us.

Maybe stage four will come sooner than we thought.

Hurray! We’re Under Attack!

green party

There are a number of stock quotes that Greens are fond of throwing around. For example, Gandhi’s “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win,” was often heard during the last election.

The Green Party of Canada was formed in the early 80s, so we spent a long time at stage one. It was only in the past two elections (2004 and 2006) that we graduated to stage two.

Now, with major newspaper editorials and other forms of attention, our actual policies are under serious attack for the first time. I didn’t realize this until I felt what it was like to be in a party that people take seriously, but up until now most criticisms took the form of dismissal (eg, “they’re a fringe party”). Now when people attack our ideas, they do it with a seriousness that was absent before.

Welcome to stage three everybody. Stage four isn’t far away.

What can Elizabeth May be thinking?

economy, foreign affairs, trade

Lots of positive press today, and one negative piece from the Globe
and Mail. My letter to the editor follows.

What, you ask, can Elizabeth May be thinking? Good question. Perhaps she’s thinking about the full, true cost of NAFTA (environmental, social, labour rights) and not just the cold financial numbers. Perhaps she’s thinking about the fact that when a trade agreement isn’t being respected, then it’s not worth the dead tree it’s written on. Perhaps she’s thinking that no trade agreement should allow a foreign company to put its profits before the health of Canadians.

Or maybe she’s thinking about taking a principled position instead of just saying what polls and focus groups tell her to. But I’m just guessing, of course.

Chris Tindal
Former Candidate, Green Party of Canada (Toronto Centre)