GreenerPolitics

From the Houston Chronicle

by Beth Duff-Brown

TORONTO — Opposition members of Parliament forced through legislation Wednesday that requires the Conservative government to meet its stiff commitments under the Kyoto accord to combat global warning.

The Tories have suggested the government would simply ignore the bill if it became law, but constitutional experts have said the government must respect laws passed by

From the BBC

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced C$1.5bn (US$1.3bn, £656m) in new funds to combat climate change.

The money will be available to provincial governments to spend if the Conservative government’s upcoming budget is passed by parliament.

The Conservatives have been criticised for not doing enough on environmental issues since being elected to a minority government in January 2006.

If the budget is not passed, an election is triggered automatically.

The federal budget is expected to be delivered in March.

Recent opinion polls have indicated that climate change is a top issue for voters.

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GNN - The Guerilla News Network

Documents from a secret meeting held at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel were released recently through the United States Freedom of Information Act. (see below)

High-level politicians and business elite from Canada, the United States and Mexico discussed whether openness about their goals or if continued secrecy called “evolution by stealth” better suited their plans for strengthening border infrastructure.

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from the toronto star
OTTAWA – The Conservative government’s newfound green policy push is viewed with skepticism by many Canadians, a new poll by Decima Research suggests.

But the flip side of the public’s jaundiced opinion of Tory motivations isn’t exactly a warm embrace of Liberal Leader Stephane Dion’s environmental record.

The national survey, provided to The Canadian Press, indicates there are plenty of doubts about all the major federal political parties when it comes to environmental policy.

“Neither the Liberals nor the Conservatives have won this debate about which party . . . is decidedly better from an environmental standpoint,” Bruce Anderson, Decima’s CEO, said today.

“So there’s room for the Conservatives to feel that they can make headway on this issue.”

That’s the good news for the government.

But the poll has a distinct downside for Prime Minister Stephen Harper as he attempts to reposition the Conservatives on the file.

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From Canada.com

Jack Aubry, CanWest News Service

OTTAWA — With climate change and the environment dominating political debate in Canada, the Green party’s fortunes continue to rise as it quietly doubled the amount of

money it raised in 2006 compared with the previous year.

The latest party fundraising results released by Elections Canada this week show the party, led by its new leader Elizabeth May, raised about $800,000 in 2006, with about half of that record amount for Greens — $384,215 — coming in the last three months.

May said she believes her party is benefiting from Canadians looking for a “steadfast” option on the environment and climate change.

“Some media commentators refer to it as a perfect storm for the Green party where we have a new leader and increased focus on the climate — and of course, with the factor of a minority Harper government that actually is, even to this day, hostile to the Kyoto Protocol,” said May.

Recent surveys show the environment has taken over as the top-priority issue for Canadians, with one poll showing 20 per cent of Canadians saying they are very or somewhat likely to cast their ballots for Green candidates.