Vote for Climate

A climate-friendly coalition government?

2008-09-24T07:27:00.001-07:00

Slip of the tounge, or opening offer? Yesterday Jack Layton 'refused to rule out' entering an alliance with the federal Liberals to prevent another Harper government.

Not saying no isn't quite saying yes, but it's a start. Unfortunately, Mr. Dion appears to have rejected the suggestion today. It would be hard to describe his response as politely declining the (potential) offer.

Frankly, we're dissappointed. We know that many Canadians are tired of knee-jerk partisan politics. Elections are only zero-sum games for die hard party loyalists.

We know that the majority of Canadians will vote 'other than Conservative' this election and we think everyone concerned about the environment, social justice and a host of other issues will be better off under a left of centre coalition government.

Strategic voting is one way to bring this about. That is what we are trying to encourage through Vote For Climate. If the progressive parties don't want to cooperate to represent left of centre interests, we will need to work together on the ground and vote strategically to build the kind of government we want.

We hold out hope that the parties themselves can come together and cooperate during the campaign. The crucial move required for this to succeed would be for each party to stand down candidates in selected key ridings to avoid vote splitting and the election of a Conservative government. Public pressure on the leaders could keep this idea in their minds.

Let Mr Layton know that you apprecite his not-saying-no to a coalition government:

Toll Free: 1-866-525-2555
Email: Layton.J@parl.gc.ca

Let Mr Dion know what you think of his quick rejection of the idea:
Liberal Party Headquarters:(613) 237-0740
Email: Dion.S@parl.gc.ca

Contact information for the Liberal Party across Canada:
http://www.liberal.ca/contact_e.aspx

Why isn't global warming an election issue?

2008-09-24T06:44:00.000-07:00

Has anyone heard Stephen Harper forced to defend his government's inadequate policies for fighting global warming yet this election? We haven't.

The Liberal Party's emphasis on the central policy of their platform, the shift of taxes from income to pollution, has provided Harper the opportunity to frame discussion of emission reduction policies in terms of their effect on the economy, not on the environment. The fact that the global economy has taken a nosedive recently has not helped. Global warming was recently rated 6th in the issues that Canadians think important this election.

Recent extreme weather events such as hurricane Gustav and flooding in India which drove millions from their homes have not been framed as global warming issues by the media. Even events closer to home, such as the break up of one of Canada's arctic ice shelves, the faster than expected melting of the Greenland ice shelf, and the sustained shrinkage of the artic summer ice pack have not entered the discussion or helped frame the debate.

Global warming (and what Canada needs to do about it) can be brought back into this campaign, if opinion leaders at all levels are willing to put it there. Here are some things you can do in your community:
1. Talk to your friends and neighbours about the need to vote strategically to elect climate-friendly parties in Canada. Go to http://www.voteforclimate.ca/ to learn more.

2.Order an 'I'm voting for REAL action on Climate Change!' lawn sign from Voters Taking Action on Climate Change -- http://www.vtacc.org/

3. Go to the VTACC on line climate action map of Canada to add your voice to those in communities across the country who are calling form immediate action on climate change -- http://www.vtacc.org/gmap.html/

4. Go to http://www.voteenvironment2008.ca/ to read some great tips on questions to ask candidates, how to organise a climate change all candidates meeting, and so on.

Strategic Voting and The Green Party

2008-09-23T06:27:00.000-07:00

Vote for Climate encourages you to vote strategically on October 14th so that we elect a coalition government of the climate-friendly parties. We have identified 80 ridings where strategic voting is crucial, and we'll post the recommended candidate in each riding soon. Go to VoteForClimate.ca for the details.

In close ridings we must work together to defeat sitting Conservatives. This means voting for the candidate from one of the other parties that has the best chance of getting elected. To the best of our knowledge so far, that means the Liberals, the NDP or the Bloc in every case. We are encouraging concerned voters in each of the close Conservative ridings to give us some solid, pragmatic advice which we can post on the web site.

What about the Green Party? The Green Party has the best climate policies of any of the federal parties. The Green Party candidates we've met are among the most passionate and concerned people we know when it comes to action on global warming. Unfortunately, given our current electoral system, voting for the Green Party in close ridings may have the perverse outcome of helping elect a Conservative majority government.

Is this the price we have to pay for the slow build to a Green Party breakthrough to representation in parliament? We think that we simply can't afford another four years of government indifference to the climate crisis.

The New Economic Foundation in the UK argues that we have 100 months to get the pollution that causes global warming under control, or we may well face runaway changes to the earth's climate. 100 months is two majority governments in Canada. Two Conservative majorities would take us off line and out of action until it was too late to make a difference.

We think the debate over voting strategically or voting Green boils down to the following.

If you want to elect a government that will start working hard to fight global warming:

help to defeat the Conservatives by voting strategically.

If you care about the Green Party, support their policies and want to see them in government:

work hard to bring proportional representation to Canada - go to Fair Vote Canada to find out more
support the Green Party financially. Every party receives $1.75 per vote cast in their favour under Canada's election financing laws -- if you are voting strategically for another party, why not donate your share directly to the Green Party.
if you are voting strategically but would rather vote Green, consider leveraging your compromise by swapping your vote with someone willing to vote Green in another riding. Google "Pair Vote" or "Anti-Harper Vote Swap" to check out groups running vote swapping campaigns this election. (Note: We have not looked into these groups and we do not vouch for their legitimacy.)

Finally, if you think the Green Party has a shot at winning a riding this election, send us the information. We need links to credible sources of information -- polling results reported in local papers, for instance. We haven't yet posted the recommendations for Conservative held ridings.

We think you should support sitting Liberal, Bloc and NDP MPs, but:

2008-09-13T07:36:00.000-07:00

-- Don't give them a free ride. They still have to earn your vote. They have to know that climate change is a key issue for their constituents, and that after the election they are going to have to get to work to start quickly reducing emissions.

A couple of key questions:

Ask them how much they think emissions need to be reduced. They should know, without prompting, that they have to be reduced 80 to 90 percent by 2050.

Ask them how their party will get that done.
They should know key measures must include i) putting a price on emissions -- i.e. with a carbon tax, and 2) regulating reductions from those sources that can't be controlled by pricing pollution. If they give you vague answers about voluntary measures, personal responsibility, education, rebates and incentives and so on then they have clearly missed the boat.

Please ask the candidates tough questions, at the door, at town halls, in letters to the editor. When their campaign office calls and asks you for money, ask them tough questions too. They may not have the answers, but they will help send word up the line that your support is not unconditional.

Please go to www.voteforclimate.ca to get involved.

And the first Conservative election promise is...

2008-09-12T07:30:00.000-07:00

... a cut in taxes on diesel fuel. We're not economists, but it is common knowledge that cheaper fuel means more fuel burnt, and more fuel burnt equals more of the pollution that causes climate change.

Mr Harper is an economist. With this announcement he has signaled that his government will not make climate change a priority.

Contrast this action with Dion's recent changes to his carbon tax plan. He has included subsidies to farmers, truckers and fishermen to help them purchase more fuel efficient equipment to lower their fuel use. This is a smart use of revenue in support of policy: some of the revenue from the tax would be used to offset the impacts of the tax itself.

Here's the big difference between Dion's change and Harper's announcement: the former keeps the price of fuel high but helps key sectors get better prepared for the coming low emission economy. The latter simply postpones the inevitable and provides no incentive for anyone -- truckers, the people who buy goods shipped long distances, and so on -- to prepare for the future.

Please go to www.voteforclimate.ca to get involved.

Green Party needs to be in leaders debate!

2008-09-10T09:07:00.000-07:00

The Green Party leader's exclusion from the televised political debate is absurd. The networks buckled because Harper, Dion and Duceppe said they wouldn't show up if May was invited. Come on -- we don't allow our kids to behave that way, so why would we let our leaders?

This issue isn't settled. You can help get the Greens inside the tent and involved in the discussion. We need them there because they will help keep climate change front and centre. If you agree, you need to tell that to Harper, Dion, Duceppe and the TV networks. Here's how to contact them:

Stephen Harper:
Toll free: (866) 808-8407
Email: pm@pm.gc.ca

Jack Layton:
Toll Free: 1-866-525-2555
Email: Layton.J@parl.gc.ca

Gilles Duceppe:
Télécopieur : 514 526-2868
Email :Duceppe.G@parl.gc.ca

John Cruikshank, Publisher, CBC news
(416) 205-6300

Robert Hurst, President of CTV News
416-332-5000

Troy Reeb, Senior Vice President of News Canwest Global
(416) 967-1174

Pierre Dion, President, Groupe TVA Inc.
514-526-9251

Ronald Cohen, National Chair, Canadian Broadcast Standards Council
613-233-4607

Glenn O'Farrell, President and CEO, Canadian Association of Broadcasters
613-233-4035 ext: 326

Please go to www.voteforclimate.ca to get involved.

This is our chance!

2008-09-07T12:04:00.000-07:00

All of us who have despaired while Canada sat on its hands for the last two years now have the opportunity to help elect a climate-friendly government.

We know Canadians want government to take action on global warming. If we work together, we can ensure that it does, but we're going to have to work hard.

Stephen Harper doesn't have to convince us that he cares about climate change. He just has to hope that those of us who do care will split our vote among the Liberals, the NDP, the Green party and the Bloc.

Climate voters need to have conversations across the country, riding by riding, to confront this issue. In many ridings only a few hundred voters need to be persuaded to vote strategically to shift the seat away from the Conservatives.

It's time to turn your concern into action. Please get involved, and spread the word to friends and family across the country.

Lets elect a climate-friendly government!
Please go to voteforclimate.ca to get involved.

Why we are doing this

2008-05-10T08:27:00.000-07:00

For the sake of our partners, our friends, our children, relatives in other countries, the planet, and our future, we can't allow another four years of government indifference to global warming.

If we work together, we have the power to build a government that will take care of people and the planet.

Please go to www.voteforclimate.ca to get involved.

An Era of Post Partisan Politics?

2008-04-17T09:51:00.000-07:00

It’s the first anniversary of the “Red-Green” alliance struck by Liberal leader Stéphane Dion and Green Party leader Elizabeth May. We were quite excited about their announcement because we think it reflects a concern felt by many Canadians of different political stripes: the climate crisis is too important for the parties to waste time on partisan electoral competition. If they are truly committed to confronting the biggest crisis of our time, they should be putting aside differences and focusing on collaboration.

We think the alliance showed true leadership on the part of Mr Dion and Ms May; they’re not being undemocratic, they’re simply acknowledging that we need to pull together on this and work as a team. There is something refreshing about politicians willing to rise above the fray for the good of the country and the planet. We can only hope Mr Layton sees the wisdom in this and also holds his fire in Central Nova. Ms. May is sharp, she’s clearly committed to reducing emissions, and Canada as a whole would be better off with her in government.

It’s hard to believe we have been on the verge of a general election for over a year. If the recent outcome in the Vancouver Quadra by-election is any indication (the Liberals held onto a safe seat by only 150 votes, while the Green Party surged to 14 percent of the vote), the past year has not led the voting public to seriously reflect on the Harper majority that may result from vote splitting on the left. We think it would be a disaster if growing public demand for action on climate change led to a majority government led by the party which is least willing to act on the problem. Vote for Climate is about making sure that doesn’t happen.

Please go to www.voteforclimate.ca to get involved.