Going for green
How important is the environment to you as an election issue?
Are you prepared to vote for the party that has the best environmental platform/policy?
It looks like we might see a federal election in the fall. But, as I write to you in the middle of the summer of 2008, how important is a “green” policy to you really?
I know we all say the right things. But how do we really feel when that proverbial push comes to a deliberate shove?
Here it is: the environment is not the number one issue in the Maritimes. And while the Tories have yet to unveil anything that makes sense, and while the NDP have “cap and trade” (which most voters don’t really understand), the Liberals want to tax carbon polluters and “shift” the tax burden. The Liberal plan includes tax cuts. They even have a financial calculator on their website www.thegrenshift.ca based on your income to see how much you would save (knowing that other costs will go up).
Can Liberal leader Stephane Dion sell it here? Sure he has integrity. Leadership means just that - and leading is also difficult. Dion is prepared to fight an election over this one or die trying. Good for him. Instead of telling us what we want to hear or pandering, he is taking the lead. But is leadership on this issue what we want now, and in this region?
The Maritimes face more limited effects of global warming due to the happenstance of geography, a smaller population, and ocean moderation and winds. Global warming does not hit us in the face as much as it does elsewhere (hurricane Juan notwithstanding).
Pocketbook issues rule here. And on that score, Dion’s green plan maybe making us inhale an economic tail pipe.
The gain for the pain is just not visceral enough. The light at the end of the carbon tax tunnel is just not bright enough on this side of the country.
Maritime condemnation over the Atlantic Accord and the political martyrdom of Bill Casey is still very much on the voter radar. Again, that was about the money.
In the Maritimes especially, it is about the money.
July 25th, 2008 at 8:32 am
The earth’s climate has been changing for a few billion years, but Stephan Dion and Al Gore are going to somehow change this with carbon taxes? Interesting… Our north polar ice is disappearing these pundits will point out. Well, the evidence shows that there have been many years in the 12,000 or so years since the last ice age that the polar ice has been completely absent! The earth goes through many phases due to many variables, the sun’s changing intensity of radiation/warmth for one. To be concerned about the earth is a good thing, I’m not trying to argue an upside to pollution. But we should be discerning the science carefully and not fall prey to abstact phrases like ‘climate change’.
July 29th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Greetings Andrew,
It’s great to hear you again. Assuming you ARE the same Andrew Krystal who used to be on AM640 in Toronto back in the good ol’ Mojo Radio days. IF you’re not, my bad, but great show none-the-less. Anyhow, As a recent newcomer to Halifax (finally said goodbye to Hawgtown a couple of months ago…) I don’t know if I should really be comments on local issues yet but I have to agree and don’t really see Dion’s Green plan floating out here. Bicycles and buses might be great if you live in and never have to leave a city but in the Maritimes people are just too spread out. I know Dion’s plan isn’t only going to target drivers. We all know however that in today’s Gore-Suzukian media driven anything-but-Prius/Smartcar-is-evil age anyone with anything more than 4 cylinders is going to be paying big-time (and not just because of fuel economy differences) if Dion’s plan becomes reality. Fortunately, most Canadians who don’t live in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver realize this and see his vision for what it really is, another Liberal tax hidden under another BS Liberal name and justification, that in true Liberal form, will accomplish nothing other than filling federal coffers.
August 6th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Hi Andrew.. I love your show, and have it on whenever I’m in the car.
I’m voting Liberal this year partly because of the environment issue (the Liberals seem to be the only ones with a “plan”), but mostly because I resent Stephen Harper and his apparent belief that Canadians are stupid people.
He’s stepped over the line many times, denying the press access, not answering our questions; hiding behind closed doors for all political matters. The guy is a nazi, in a facade of supposedly doing the best thing for the country, but their acts in parliament and in public defy that, in my humble opinion.
In order to “rule” responsibly, he must answer to “the people”. Nobody seems to know exactly WHAT is going on with the “PC’s”.. not so progressive if you ask me..
Mr Harper needs to GO, simply because the present government needs to be more transparent. Frankly, he scares me. Who knows what’s next on their agenda.
Respectfully, Mike Johnson
August 8th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Hi Andrew,
I’m one Atlantic voter who, for my part, will be voting in favour of the Green Shift. One day, the Conservatives will claim that they will tackle global climate change, then, the next day, they will say that its not really a problem. The NDP don’t have the courage to face the hard knocks and do something about it.
Other countries have faced far higher costs than we and have fared far better economically because of it. Think of Japan! Thier auto manufacturers are handing North American brands their heads on a plater, because they got into the efficiency game long before us. Just go to your local Tim Hortons and count the Japanese cars, and you’ll see why its so important to retool our economy.
We’ve undergone far more durastic tax changes before (The GST taking over from manufacturing, for one) and yet, we survive.
The Liberals have shown actual leadership and this is a good plan that will put us ahead to the industrial development curve. Lets get it done.
August 11th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Monday, August 11/08 This is NOT TO BE READ ON AIR. I get a little upset at some of the discussions, but usually not enough to call or write. However, today when you and “some guy” stated about John F. Kennedy….”all he did was die” I feel the need to let you know my feelings on John F. Kennedy. I don’t know where you were during the early ’60’s (I suspect you didn’t exist yet). To most of us back then he was our hero, yes even though he was President of a different country.
I would like you to do a little research on him, just on the net because he accomplished so many things during his short life, I would be here all day. Back “in the day”, the public did not have their noses in the leaders’ private lives to the extent they do today. That way, they had time to run the country, instead of wasting time defending theirselves about their personal life. We didn’t really care about their personal lives as long as they were running the country. I think if “the wives” are dumb enough to “stand by their man” lol, then let the public see how stupid they are up on the stage.
Just to name a few of his accomplishments…..He served in the Navy for his country, check out the PT109 (a hero). He wrote two books, won the Pulitzer Prize, Civil Rights, Bay of Pigs (very tense time and he called their bluff), Man on the Moon and yes, one November afternoon “he died” for his Country. You guys just said it like it was no big deal, well it was to us that that saw it happen and we never really got over it. Just mention his name to anyone that was around back then and look at the reaction on their face. (maybe Tom Young, I think he is old like me:) I remember, I was alive during that “one brief shining moment” and the whole world changed for the worse after that November afternoon. Up until then life was “carefree and happy”, after that day nothing was the same for any of us again. This is not to be read on the air… you just need to get the facts. Pierre Trudeau was quite a guy also, arrogant……”fuddle duddle”, would give you the finger, but most great men are a little arrogant. That is what sets them apart to take charge and run a Country, not “sit on the fence” saying “what to do, what minority will I offend if I say or do this????????”
Now …….how about cell phones in cars, I found something worse.. yesterday I drove into the Superstore yard, a car backed out and I had to slam on the brakes to avoid this “winggy”. Parked in “handicapped” space, when the car straightened out while I was waiting …..picture this “driving” (she seemed to think because she was in the handicapped space she had no responsibility to check for oncoming cars) the car…….a woman hugging her little dog, smiling like “all is well with the world”, which was sitting on her lap………go figure????
August 13th, 2008 at 3:41 am
This is insane. Why is the talk always seemingly conclusive that global warming is even a man caused phenomenon? There is much evidence to the contrary for those willing to look aside from the mainstream news for a minute. For those too unmotivated to do any real research, a good place to start may be a documentary called Global Warming or Global Government? We’re too quick to be pleading for greater enslavement!
No, I won’t be voting for anyone who suports the man made global warming theory.
September 7th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Andrew
David Suzuki (God) says we need to spend 1% of GDP to save the Universe. That’s $380 per person or roughly $300 Million per year in Nova Scotia alone. And we actually want to spend this? And we thought $1.40 per litre was high, just wait until Cap and Trade arrives.
The earth produces 33 times more CO2 that humans. Canada produces 2% of that, and NS only 3% of that. According to my calculator, the earth therefore produces 50,000 times more CO2 that Nova Scotia. We are completly irrelevant, and if we stopped our CO2 output tomorrow, we would have zero impact on global CO2 concentrations. But we still want to spend $300 million per year. We are truly insane.
September 15th, 2008 at 7:05 am
QUESTION PEOPLE:………………….
WHAT IS THIS SO CALLED “GREEN PARTY” GOING TO DO ABOUT THE BEDBUGS??? NO MORE DDT AND THEY’RE BACK:)
ALSO, WHAT IS UP WITH GETTING RID OF PLASTIC BAGS AND PUTTING “STYROFOAM” TRAYS COVERED IN “PLASTIC” IN CLOTH BAGS???? Oh, right I forgot they are going to stop us from eating meat and that will fix that.
I don’t understand how I am still alive, grew up in the late 50’s and early 60’s. My Dad put pesticides on our lawn, some kind of “white stuff” on his potato plants, they came around with big trucks and sprayed DDT in the air to kill the mosquitos and here I am, no “horns” grew on my head or anything like that. I always had a cat, not one of them died from the stuff my Dad put on the lawn???????? Go figure
September 15th, 2008 at 7:14 am
Hey people,
A little tip, you can vote for whomever you want (last I checked) but here in the Maritime provinces it has very little, if any, bearing on who gets in federally. Quebec and Ontario decide who will become Prime Minister.
Check it out ……I can’t remember which election it was, but right up to the northern N. B. border one of the parties (can’t remember which one) was leading big time, then we get the polls in from Quebec and Ontario, then the West and their seats outnumber us so the put in the party they wanted and the Maritimes fell by the way. Usually here in N. B. we put in a Liberal if the Conservatives are in Ottawa and a Conservative if the Liberals are in Ottawa. We do what upper Canada does so get used to it:)