Canadians will pay for Harper's approach to environment: former Tory
OTTAWA — Canadians will "pay a price" for Prime Minister Stephen Harper's unbalanced and mistaken approach on environmental issues, says a former Reform and Conservative party MP.
"I always thought that 'conserve' was part of the Conservative mantra, but I might be wrong," Bob Mills said Thursday at a news conference organized by Green Party leader Elizabeth May. "Stephen Harper puts other priorities, I think, ahead of the environment, and I think that's a mistake."
Mills, who served as environment critic for the Conservatives in opposition and later chaired the House of Commons environment committee for the governing party from 2006 to 2008, travelled from Alberta to Ottawa to deliver his criticism, which focused on the government's decision to do away with an advisory panel known as the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy.
About 30 employees and members of the panel, established by the government of former prime minister Brian Mulroney in the 1990s, learned it would be eliminated, along with $5 million in annual funding, in the 2012 budget. Mills and other former and current members of the panel sent a letter to Harper, asking the government to reverse its decision.
Environment Minister Peter Kent has said he decided to eliminate the panel, suggesting that its advice could be obtained from the Internet and other sources.
Mills said shutting down the panel would further add to Canada's international reputation as an environmental "laggard."
"I've always said that if you're smart, you surround yourself with really smart people and if you're dumb, you surround yourself with a bunch of cheerleaders," said Mills, who represented the Alberta riding of Red Deer from 1993 to 2008.
A spokesman for Kent said the government is successfully creating jobs while protecting the environment, through efforts to introduce new regulations cracking down on pollution and increasing conservation and protected areas in national parks. Kent's office also noted that new figures on Canada's greenhouse gas emissions show that pollution levels are remaining steady while the economy is growing.
But another Conservative politician, former Nova Scotia environment minister Mark Parent also said at the news conference that the federal and provincial governments are neglecting environmental concerns and making short-sighted decisions that will damage the Canadian economy in the long-term.
"Anyone who says they're an economic genius when they take attitudes such as we've been seeing — with not just unfortunately the federal government, but I see it with provincial governments — are wrong," said Parent, also a member of the round table. "It's for political short-term reasons; it's not for long-term economic reasons. It's not economically sensible."
Mills added that the issues examined by the panel were done from a balanced perspective by Canadians from all walks of life who were researching options for sustainable development and economic prosperity. He said the round table never suggested that people should be living in caves without electricity or cars and questioned how the government could get reliable and relevant advice from either the Internet or separate groups.
Mills said he supports some efforts of the government to improve the environmental assessment process and reduce red tape, but felt obliged to speak out against a policies he says he believes are wrong.
"I don't agree with Elizabeth (May) a lot of times, but the point is I know she's genuine and caring about the environment," said Mills. "I think the people here know the importance of the environment and the economy — tying them together and moving forward. I really mean that down the road, we're going to pay a price for not putting those two together."
OTTAWA — Canadians will "pay a price" for Prime Minister Stephen Harper's unbalanced and mistaken approach on environmental issues, says a former Reform and Conservative party MP.
"I always thought that 'conserve' was part of the Conservative mantra, but I might be wrong," Bob Mills said Thursday at a news conference organized by Green Party leader Elizabeth May. "Stephen Harper puts other priorities, I think, ahead of the environment, and I think that's a mistake."
Mills, who served as environment critic for the Conservatives in opposition and later chaired the House of Commons environment committee for the governing party from 2006 to 2008, travelled from Alberta to Ottawa to deliver his criticism, which focused on the government's decision to do away with an advisory panel known as the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy.
About 30 employees and members of the panel, established by the government of former prime minister Brian Mulroney in the 1990s, learned it would be eliminated, along with $5 million in annual funding, in the 2012 budget. Mills and other former and current members of the panel sent a letter to Harper, asking the government to reverse its decision.
Environment Minister Peter Kent has said he decided to eliminate the panel, suggesting that its advice could be obtained from the Internet and other sources.
Mills said shutting down the panel would further add to Canada's international reputation as an environmental "laggard."
"I've always said that if you're smart, you surround yourself with really smart people and if you're dumb, you surround yourself with a bunch of cheerleaders," said Mills, who represented the Alberta riding of Red Deer from 1993 to 2008.
A spokesman for Kent said the government is successfully creating jobs while protecting the environment, through efforts to introduce new regulations cracking down on pollution and increasing conservation and protected areas in national parks. Kent's office also noted that new figures on Canada's greenhouse gas emissions show that pollution levels are remaining steady while the economy is growing.
But another Conservative politician, former Nova Scotia environment minister Mark Parent also said at the news conference that the federal and provincial governments are neglecting environmental concerns and making short-sighted decisions that will damage the Canadian economy in the long-term.
"Anyone who says they're an economic genius when they take attitudes such as we've been seeing — with not just unfortunately the federal government, but I see it with provincial governments — are wrong," said Parent, also a member of the round table. "It's for political short-term reasons; it's not for long-term economic reasons. It's not economically sensible."
Mills added that the issues examined by the panel were done from a balanced perspective by Canadians from all walks of life who were researching options for sustainable development and economic prosperity. He said the round table never suggested that people should be living in caves without electricity or cars and questioned how the government could get reliable and relevant advice from either the Internet or separate groups.
Mills said he supports some efforts of the government to improve the environmental assessment process and reduce red tape, but felt obliged to speak out against a policies he says he believes are wrong.
"I don't agree with Elizabeth (May) a lot of times, but the point is I know she's genuine and caring about the environment," said Mills. "I think the people here know the importance of the environment and the economy — tying them together and moving forward. I really mean that down the road, we're going to pay a price for not putting those two together."
