May: Demise of climate bill was undemocratic

Elizabeth May, Times Colonist:

The Stephen Harper-controlled Senate delivered a brutal blow to climate action -- and democracy itself -- this week when it killed the Climate Change Accountability Act.

The NDP private members bill, which passed the House of Commons last May, required five-year plans to tackle reductions in greenhouse gases based on targets derived from scientific advice.

Prime Minister Harper labelled the bill "irresponsible," and claimed it threatened "millions" of Canadian jobs.

The bill, however, did not dictate specific polices. It was up to the government to choose how the targets were met. The facts do not support the claim that it is impossible to meet targets without losing millions of jobs.

Sweden has reduced emissions to eight per cent below 1990 levels while growing its economy by 44 per cent over the same time period.

A carbon-reduction plan could create hundreds of thousands of jobs by eliminating waste of energy -- and 60 per cent of the energy we use is wasted.

An aggressive retrofit program would employ carpenters, electricians and other trades. Improving mass transit could cut greenhouse gases while creating jobs. Moving more goods from highway to rail transport would also improve highway safety and air quality. More jobs would be created in the shift to renewable energy.

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