Unmet Commitments

In December, 2015 - just a month after he and the Liberal Party were elected, Justin Trudeau became the darling of the international community when he waxed poetic on all of the good things that Canada would do to slow the rate of climate change. I suspect that all but the most hardened conservatives felt at least a slight pull of pride at our Prime Minister standing up and telling the world that once again Canada was going to contribute. It certainly felt as if we were on the right path.

Fast forward three or so years and it feels as if not only will Canada not meet its commitments to the Paris Accord - but that the world is in far worse shape than some scientists predicted it would be. It is clear that whatever plans the Federal Liberals may have had to address the problems have run into some serious roadblocks as a number of the provinces have said that they will not participate in the proposed federal carbon pricing plan. Three of those provinces are asking the courts to rule on whether or not the federal government has the power to make them participate. The provinces are arguing that such a tax is within the jurisdiction of the provincial government and that the federal government should not try to impose a national plan.

I am not sure if I understand how a carbon tax will significantly affect our behaviour in terms of usage of carbon producing substances. In B.C. which has a carbon tax, and our gas prices are higher, I see no signs that anyone has reduced the amount of driving they do. There may be some subtle signs that individuals and companies are devising strategies to reduce the output, but if so, it is not obvious. Clearly I am missing something or not understanding some part of. This confusion is exacerbated by the fact that if one reads established/traditional news services, there is a wide range of conflicting views. These views are further complicated by political ideology and willingness or unwillingness to accept that climate change is a very real thing.

Those provinces who have indicated that they are not willing to participate in a federal plan have not been forthcoming as to what their alternatives are. The federal government appears to be quite content to allow BC to have its own plan. The feds just want there to be a consistent plan in every province that starts to address the problem. I can understand that some provinces are concerned that the federal government might be sticking its nose into areas it does not belong ( and that is a slippery path), I can also understand that some provinces are concerned that the economic playing field will not be level if some provinces do not participate in a carbon pricing plan. I, however, suspect that for the most part - because of a change in the provincial government, those new premiers just want to do everything they can to "stick it to" the Liberals in Ottawa.

I don't care who creates the plan, I don't care who collects the "carbon tax", I don't even particularly care what whoever does with the increased income - I just want all of the boys and girls (although there are a lot fewer females around the table than there was three years ago) to play together nicely. I just want them to think before they open their mouths, to stop worrying so much about pandering to their constituents, to stop trying to look like hardnosed people who are protecting "the little guy", to develop a strategy that will be effective and to start doing what is good for the country as a whole and the world.

Is that really too much to ask?