Premier Stelmach had better shoot this federal Tory turkey now
By Link Byfield
Premier Stelmach had better shoot this federal Tory turkey now
A “trial balloon” was once used only by meteorologists to measure things like atmospheric pressure. Now it's a device used mainly by politicians. It means “a statement... issued publicly as a means of determining reactions in advance.”
Such as yesterday, when the federal Conservatives joined in unanimous Commons support for a Bloc Quebecois motion calling for Alberta companies to buy carbon credits in Quebec.
According to Canadian Press, “The Conservatives stunned the Commons on Tuesday by supporting an opposition motion to meet the objectives of the Kyoto Protocol, in apparent contradiction of their own frequently stated policies.” (read news clipping here)
CP reported that the Bloc motion “calls for the government to urgently set absolute targets for cutting greenhouse emissions so as to achieve the objectives of Kyoto and as a preliminary condition for establishing a carbon exchange market in Montreal.”
Queried by astonished reporters, Environment Minister John Baird lucidly replied, “When you say greenhouse gases are going up, we want them to get them to go down. Really. Absolutely. I mean, I think that’s what Canadians want. I mean, we can debate language till the cows come home. I think what Canadians want to see is they want to see a plan that sees greenhouse gases go down, not up.”
And they said Rona Ambrose is inept?
The Conservatives plan to introduce legislation tomorrow (Thursday) to “combat global warming” (sorry, I still can’t say it with a straight face). It may well lay the battlefield for the next election. And according to everything they had said up until yesterday, the plan will not implement Kyoto, will not call for reductions in total Canadian carbon dioxide emissions anytime soon, and will not require purchase of emission credits.
And let’s not completely forget the Tories were elected a year ago on a firm commitment to ignore CO2 emissions entirely, and deal instead with actual air pollution.
So if the minister can’t explain yesterday’s vote, what does?
First, let’s remember that a “motion” in Parliament does not bind the government to act. It’s a political statement – perhaps even a political lie – but not a law.
So there are two possibilities. The Tories are either softening up the West to pay an environmental tribute to Quebec – allowing a trial balloon to see if we’ll roll over and let them pillage us even more than they already do. Or they’re simply lying to Parliament to look good in Quebec.
We’ll know tomorrow.
In the meantime, it would be appropriate for the Stelmach government in Edmonton to issue a scorching warning – today – that if one dollar leaves Alberta to buy some bogus, useless, unconstitutional CO2 credit from the federal government, the consequence to Confederation will indeed be dire.
For that is the purpose of trial balloons – to determine public reactions in advance. No reaction at all tells Harper he can abscond with yet another massive haul of new cash from Alberta, even though it would betray the voters who put him in power.
He wouldn't be the first Tory prime minister to make that mistake.
What passed unanimously in the Canadian House of Commons yesterday amounted to the preamble of a declaration of constitutional war. Whether the federal Tories intend to follow through, or are simply lying to Quebec, is not relevant. Parliament has spoken. It must be angrily rebuked.
This is the big test, Premier Stelmach. Go nuclear or go home.
p.s. You can email your comments to Premier Stelmach by going to
http://premier.alberta.ca/contact/
- Link Byfield
Link Byfield is an Alberta senator-elect and chairman of the Citizens Centre. The Centre promotes the principles of personal freedom and responsible government.
By Link Byfield
Premier Stelmach had better shoot this federal Tory turkey now
A “trial balloon” was once used only by meteorologists to measure things like atmospheric pressure. Now it's a device used mainly by politicians. It means “a statement... issued publicly as a means of determining reactions in advance.”
Such as yesterday, when the federal Conservatives joined in unanimous Commons support for a Bloc Quebecois motion calling for Alberta companies to buy carbon credits in Quebec.
According to Canadian Press, “The Conservatives stunned the Commons on Tuesday by supporting an opposition motion to meet the objectives of the Kyoto Protocol, in apparent contradiction of their own frequently stated policies.” (read news clipping here)
CP reported that the Bloc motion “calls for the government to urgently set absolute targets for cutting greenhouse emissions so as to achieve the objectives of Kyoto and as a preliminary condition for establishing a carbon exchange market in Montreal.”
Queried by astonished reporters, Environment Minister John Baird lucidly replied, “When you say greenhouse gases are going up, we want them to get them to go down. Really. Absolutely. I mean, I think that’s what Canadians want. I mean, we can debate language till the cows come home. I think what Canadians want to see is they want to see a plan that sees greenhouse gases go down, not up.”
And they said Rona Ambrose is inept?
The Conservatives plan to introduce legislation tomorrow (Thursday) to “combat global warming” (sorry, I still can’t say it with a straight face). It may well lay the battlefield for the next election. And according to everything they had said up until yesterday, the plan will not implement Kyoto, will not call for reductions in total Canadian carbon dioxide emissions anytime soon, and will not require purchase of emission credits.
And let’s not completely forget the Tories were elected a year ago on a firm commitment to ignore CO2 emissions entirely, and deal instead with actual air pollution.
So if the minister can’t explain yesterday’s vote, what does?
First, let’s remember that a “motion” in Parliament does not bind the government to act. It’s a political statement – perhaps even a political lie – but not a law.
So there are two possibilities. The Tories are either softening up the West to pay an environmental tribute to Quebec – allowing a trial balloon to see if we’ll roll over and let them pillage us even more than they already do. Or they’re simply lying to Parliament to look good in Quebec.
We’ll know tomorrow.
In the meantime, it would be appropriate for the Stelmach government in Edmonton to issue a scorching warning – today – that if one dollar leaves Alberta to buy some bogus, useless, unconstitutional CO2 credit from the federal government, the consequence to Confederation will indeed be dire.
For that is the purpose of trial balloons – to determine public reactions in advance. No reaction at all tells Harper he can abscond with yet another massive haul of new cash from Alberta, even though it would betray the voters who put him in power.
He wouldn't be the first Tory prime minister to make that mistake.
What passed unanimously in the Canadian House of Commons yesterday amounted to the preamble of a declaration of constitutional war. Whether the federal Tories intend to follow through, or are simply lying to Quebec, is not relevant. Parliament has spoken. It must be angrily rebuked.
This is the big test, Premier Stelmach. Go nuclear or go home.
p.s. You can email your comments to Premier Stelmach by going to
http://premier.alberta.ca/contact/
- Link Byfield
Link Byfield is an Alberta senator-elect and chairman of the Citizens Centre. The Centre promotes the principles of personal freedom and responsible government.
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