Why Elizabeth May Must Be In The Debates

Jeffrey Simpson did us all a huge favour today with his Globe and Mail column, "Climate change? Not in this campaign." His conclusion?

"The Harper government's 17-per-cent reduction target can't be met with policies now in place, and every expert knows it. Canadians just don't care. So the issue is barely mentioned."

Is this true? Likely not, but in political terms we might just as well acknowledge his wisdom.  We have the worst record in the industrialized world concerning environmental investment and yet don't register any embarrassment over the issue. The Harper government never believed in the danger anyway and it suits their purposes in this election that it's become a closet issue. The PM bristles when he hears that a key component of the reason why this country was denied its coveted Security Council seat at the United Nations was because the environmental file is part and parcel of any country's foreign policy and ours is in decline, even shameful.Which brings us to Elizabeth May. I've been one of those candidates who had the privilege of running against Ms. May for my by-election in November 2006. She was formidable, charming and highly persuasive. But more than anything, her effective championing of the need to combat climate change became one of the three primary issues of the campaign. Sitting next to her on numerous occasions, I was inwardly gratified that she was in the race.The challenges of climate change endure, regardless of whether we acknowledge them or not. Like a cancer, the effects of degradation eat away at our future possibilities and the natural wonder that constitutes this great land. Many of us have had loved ones who refused to give up smoking or other social practices that would eventually lead to their decline and we've asked ourselves repeatedly: "Why can't they see it?" Well now it's our turn as a nation to face our own denial to the future health of this land and our children. For this reason, perhaps more than any other, we require Elizabeth May front-and-centre to challenge the political system and especially Stephen Harper on the lack of action. The other opposition parties have put forward their respective policies on the environment to counter the present government's abominable record, but we presently require all voices for the environment at the table - and that means we need Elizabeth May.  The issue is not her electability or any political calculation; it is, rather, an affirmation of the value would be put on our natural order as a nation if we just weren't so distracted. The opposition leaders are for her participation. If the environment has any value to Canadians, all voices must be at the table of debate.Read Jeffrey Simpson's article at: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/climate-change-not-in-this-campaign/article1975493/