I love the underlying bias exposed in this Indepth: Reality Check. Because Brian Mulroney was a Conservatives and Conservatives are, um, you know, eviiiil, there is no way that former PM-Mulroney could actually deserve the honour of being the greenist-PM. No way, there must be some conspiracy theory behind it.
I really do feel badly suggesting this, but I can't help feel that this event to honour Mulroney at something called the Earth Week Gala Dinner may have some ulterior motives associated with it. It is of course sponsored by a magazine called Corporate Knights, a left-leaning publication that makes a point of honouring business execs who do the right thing by the environment. And this idea of polling 12 "prominent Canadians" (10 of them environmentalists, one was former Liberal environment minister Sheila Copps) to determine the greenest PM in modern times came about just two years ago when pro-Kyoto Paul Martin, who likes to paint himself as the environmental PM, was in power. Martin wasn't in great odour with environmentalists (and certainly not with leadership rival Copps) two years ago, however. He was being his usual prevaricating self. And you can see these environmentalists – they're clever clogs – wanting to light a little fire under him. Flash forward to today. There is an anti-Kyoto Conservative prime minister in office in Stephen Harper. What better way to light a little fire under him, and perhaps create a new set of environmental issues that don't have the letters Kyoto in them, than to honour one of his mentors who has just recovered (and bravo to that) from a long illness.
Because time has proven out that the most utterly complex answer is always the right one. Or is that only when you have to spin really hard to make the world change to fit your view of it?
Comments (7)
Mulroney did two things I agreed with in 8 years. One was his stand on South Africa and two was his record on acid rain. I am glad he is being recognized for one of them, but how sad is it that Mulroney has been gone for over a decade and the Liberals have done nothing to advance the environment?
Posted by Greg | April 20, 2006 10:23 AM
Posted on April 20, 2006 10:23
Socialist Greg:
You forgot the GST, that pays for so many of your precious social programs. Surely all new taxes are good taxes.
Posted by Occam's Carbuncle | April 20, 2006 10:49 AM
Posted on April 20, 2006 10:49
I remember the “Gouge and Screw Tax” every time I go to the store. ;)
Posted by Greg | April 20, 2006 11:03 AM
Posted on April 20, 2006 11:03
Why, oh why must Harper be failing to imitate Mulroney in the one area where it matters most?
Posted by Idealistic Pragmatist | April 20, 2006 11:17 AM
Posted on April 20, 2006 11:17
How does paying billions of dollars in fines for not reducing green house gases help the environment? I don’t get it.
Posted by Anonymous | April 20, 2006 2:46 PM
Posted on April 20, 2006 14:46
I have to agree anon, Kyoto is the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard of to deal with the environment. By pissing away so much money Kyoto actually HURTS our ability to implement environmental programs.
Posted by Jeff | April 20, 2006 2:54 PM
Posted on April 20, 2006 14:54
Corcoran did a nice scathing editorial on this in past few days in the Financial Post. I recommend it as an antidote to pro-Kyoto, pro-corporate socialism propaganda.
Posted by Dave E | April 20, 2006 10:14 PM
Posted on April 20, 2006 22:14