CANADA’S CLEAN AIR ACT: PUTTING AN END TO LIBERAL HOT AIR

Over the last 13 years of Liberal rule, Greehouse Gas Emissions have actually gone up 35%! Far from reaching the Kyoto targets of 6% below 1990 levels, the Chretien and Martin governments took our country’s environment in the wrong direction. Predictably, when a Conservative government introduced legislation that would actually produce reductions in smog, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions - the opposition parties spit in the face of the Canadian public and demonized the proposals.

For months the Liberals and NDP cried, “they have no plan...” all the while having nothing to offer themselves other than the paper tiger of Kyoto. While the opposition was playing origami with hot air credits, our government was crafting a plan that would produce immediate, short-term and long term results in a measurable way. The era of sound bytes has been replaced with the era of sound policy.

In order to meet our 2010 Kyoto targets, we would not only have to reduce emissions by 6% below 1990 levels, we would also have to eliminate the additional 28% increase in emissions that the Liberals allowed. To put it simply, we would have to shut down nearly ½ of the greenhouse gas emitting machinery to meet Kyoto targets!

Which emitters should we eliminate overnight - ½ of Canadian cars and trucks? Perhaps we should lay off ½ of Canadian workers and shut down the industrial manufacturing emitters they work for. Maybe we should close the coal fired electrical generating plants throughout the country and give out blankets and sweaters instead!

The fact is that, due to the inattention and neglect of the former Liberal government, we have no hope of meeting our Kyoto target in 2010. That does not mean we will abandon the plan, it simply means that we have to be realistic about the time frame.

The Conservative Clean Air Act proposes to tackle air pollution and greenhouse gas at the same time because they often come from the same sources. We are moving away from voluntary standards set by what industry is comfortable with to strict, enforceable targets that will give Canadians some breathing room.

The patchwork system of bureaucratic Liberal quagmire is being replaced with clear, comprehensive national standards. This requires consultation with the provinces so that everyone is on the same page. That is not a delaying tactic, it is just smart government.

One of the biggest criticisms by the opposition and groups like the Sierra Club is that we have set a target of 65% reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050. Every Liberal leadership candidate has set lesser targets: Michael Ignatieff 50% by 2050; Bob Rae 50% over the next 45 years; Stéphane Dion 60% by 2050; Ken Dryden 50% over the next 45 years*.

Minister Ambrose told the Parliament “We will also be negotiating over the next four months with every province and territory and industry sector short term targets to be put in place by spring.” Targets supported by the provinces, industry and good science are not irresponsible, they are good government.

- TruBlue

*Source: The Hansard, Thursday October 19, 2006

REALITY CHECK: THE NEWS THAT DOESN’T GET REPORTED

I have been trying to deny that there is such a thing as media bias against conservatives. When the media blitz against the $1 billion in budget savings came out against the Conservative government, I decided to do a little research. This humble scribe has no special access that is not available to any honest reporter and yet they were either unwilling to dig for the facts or they were content to simply regurgitate the anti-Conservative spin foisted by the opposition. It is easy to say that the Conservative government should do a better job of communicating, and perhaps that is an honest criticism. The problem is however that the media is so jaded that they take all press releases issued by the government as partisan spin and immediately go to the "critics" for a "realistic assessment."

If you will take note of the tone of Opposition criticism, you will see that they are mostly reduced to criticizing what the new Conservative government hasn't addressed yet. After the Throne Speech, "Look at what they didn't say anything about." After the budget was introduced, "Look at what they didn't give more money to!" And now after deleting money that was deisngated to a general program, but had no specific allocation, "The Conservatives are against women and want to make Canadians illiterate!" The facts about the budget cuts indicate that they were responsible eliminations of programs that weren't even coming close to their targets, and cleaning up a lot of loose money that the Liberals left lying around. The details about the Adult Learning, Literacy and Essential Skills Program (ALLESP) as I have found them are as follows:

1. Since 1994, under the previous government, the number of Canadians with low literacy skills has actually increased.
2. Canada’s new Government is refocusing funding for literacy programming and directing funds at projects which deliver measurable results.
3. Over the next two years, Canada’s new Government will be investing $81 million directly towards programs for adult learning and literacy skills.
4. Canada’s new Government is committed to helping Canadians improve literacy levels NOW with a higher percentage of dollars going to direct, on-the-ground training - not more studies and consultations to tell us people need help! This is just another example of Canada’s new Government getting things done for Canadian families and taxpayers.
5. Not a single organization with an existing agreement has had its funding cut. Every agreement is being honoured.
6. This refocusing only affects future calls for proposal. Moving forward, funding will be directed towards projects that advance national objectives and deliver tangible results for Canadians. All organizations that are currently receiving funding are encouraged to apply for future funding.
7. Canada’s new Government is proud to support Canadian men and women to improve their skills and secure a better future for themselves and their families. Some of the other programs are:

• $28 million this year for the Enhanced Language Training Initiative, which includes the new Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement
• Another $900,000 for the Essential Skills and Workplace Literacy Initiative
• $73 million over two years for the Workplace Skills Initiative
• $2.6 billion over two years for the Aboriginal elementary and secondary education program
• $4.6 million for the Computers for Schools program
• $1.5 million for the Adult Education Skills Development in PEI
• $63 million a year for the Sector Council Program which supports workplace skills and literacy programs in key economic sectors

Now, dear reader, tell me that the above is not at odds with what is reported in the media. It seems that we have a fourth opposition party which influences our electoral process without any accountability - it is called "The Press." Individual reporters may not be biased, and certainly they are entitled to their editorial views, but it's time we had some honest reporting in this country. If this private citizen can ferret out the facts with a few hours on the computer, perhaps editors should extend the deadlines so that their reporters can give the public accurate information. Veritas excelsior!

- TruBlue