Respect democracy and heed the will of Canadians

David Suzuki:

Tell MPs and the Prime Minister to respect democracy and heed the will of Canadians

Stephen Harper has done what he promised never to do: allow the Senate to go against the will of the majority of Members of Parliament and the Canadian public. On November 16, after a surprise vote and without any debate, unelected Conservative senators killed the Climate Change Accountability Act. The Act would have made government accountable for putting in place the solutions to reduce global warming emissions to safe levels – in line with targets that leading scientists say are necessary to avoid the devastating consequences of uncontrolled climate change. It was overwhelmingly supported by and passed in the elected House of Commons, thanks in part to the support of Canadians from across the country.

This decision by Conservative senators to avoid debate and call a snap vote shows disrespect for our democracy and for Canadians, who time and again have told our elected representatives that we want the federal government to act on the most serious threat facing our country and the world.

Please call or write the Prime Minister and your Member of Parliament to let them know that we expect them to live up to their responsibility to be accountable to the will of Canadians and our democracy. Consider also sending a letter to your local newspaper to let others know how you feel.

Visit here to send an email to Marjory LeBreton, Leader of the Conservative government in the Senate; Prime Minister Stephen Harper; Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff; NDP Leader Jack Layton; Green Party Leader Elizabeth May; and Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe.