Liberals in trouble over Kyoto

crit13

Electoral Member
Mar 28, 2005
301
4
18
Whitby, Ontario
No support for Liberals from environmental groups: A coalition of eight major environmental groups, including the David Suzuki Foundation, Greenpeace, and the Sierra Legal Defence Fund, has issued a joint statement calling the Kyoto provisions in the bill “unnecessary and divisive”. These same groups have been pressing the government for years to implement Kyoto, but are expressing concerns that the environmental amendments are being proposed without any debate. Rick Smith, of the Environmental Defence Fund who also co-signed the statement, said, “What the government is doing is not supported by environmental leaders in Canada, so it begs the question as to why they're doing it.” (Globe and Mail)

No support for Liberals from energy sector: The energy industry is rightly worried that Kyoto amendments attached to the budget bill “gives the government power to enforce compliance with Kyoto targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, even though the Liberals have yet to spell out any national strategy for doing so.” (Globe and Mail) If the Liberals have a plan to implement Kyoto, they owe it to Canadians to show it to them so it can be fully debated, rather than trying to do it through the back door.
 

Reverend Blair

Council Member
Apr 3, 2004
1,238
1
38
Winnipeg
RE: Liberals in trouble o

Like I said in another thread though, Crit...the Liberals knew in advance they weren't going to get support from the BQ and NDP on this. They just had to push the Conservatives on this. The Conservatives will bring the government down, there will be a backlash. The election will be fought on the environment, something the Conservatives suck at. They'll be thrashed by all three other parties.

The Liberals just won the next election and they did it in such a way that the Conservatives will wield a lot less power next time around.

As long as the Liberal backbenchers don't blink, it's an excellent piece of politics.
 

crit13

Electoral Member
Mar 28, 2005
301
4
18
Whitby, Ontario
I didn't bring this up as an election issue.

I'm just tired of all the Liberal lies and BS. It seems that they are caught in a lie or a scandal daily.
 

galianomama

Council Member
Jun 29, 2004
1,076
1
38
Victoria, B.C.
I'm just tired of all the Liberal lies and BS. It seems that they are caught in a lie or a scandal daily.

i don't know of a political party that is in power that isn't caught in scandals or lies. that's the great thing about living in a democracy. we seem to have the ability to find out what is going on on a daily basis with those we elect.
 

Reverend Blair

Council Member
Apr 3, 2004
1,238
1
38
Winnipeg
RE: Liberals in trouble o

It isn't just the Liberals. The Conservatives have figured out they walked into a trap and are now saying that they'll try to split the bill in comittee. The NDP will support them on that because (a)the NDP listen to the environmental professionals on environmental matters and (b) it's the politically smart thing to do...Canadians don't want to go to the polls so somebody else has to take the blame on that.

That leaves it up to the BQ who have been looking like they want an election because they have issues in Quebec and don't have to worry about the rest of the country. It will need their support for the bill to be split in committee.

The only other that could happen is that Martin could change that single line himself. He'll be watching the polls before he decides that, but don't count on it. He likely has a pretty good idea of what's going to come out in Gomery by now. I'd pretty much everybody on Parliament Hill does, including the Conservatives, but nobody can say.

So, you see, all four parties are playing politics and messing around on this. It is the way the game is played...a little brinksmanship, a little oneupsmanship, a couple backroom deals, some give and take, a chunk of bravado in front of the cameras, a well-placed interview here, a leak there. Top it all off with strategy meetings and talking points and never mention that your opponent drank a bottle of whiskey last night because he knows damned well you did the same.

That's what politics is really all about. The issues are real, and so are the positions the parties take on them, but without the power the issues mean nothing. So let the games begin.

BTW, have I mentioned that the Conservatives voted against taking measures to reform out electoral system so these games don't take place?