[Denny]

In looking at the Canadian Liberal party leadership content this weekend, the suprise of Stephane Dion's success seemed built on his clearly drawn line of opposition to Stephen Harper's environmental agenda. It especially attracted the younger element, just as Trudeau did almost 40 years ago.

It will be interesting to see if the Canadian public gets on the environmental bandwagon. Dkion seems to be punching the right buttons, that we can adopt environmentalism and use it to our economic advantage. Whereas the Conservatives see the envoirnment and economy as opposing forces.

After seeing Al Gore's "An inconvenient truth", I must say that it would be great to see him back in the political arena too. What a possible great combination that could be for North America, Gore and Dion.

[threadbear]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Denny', 'I')n looking at the Canadian Liberal party leadership content this weekend, the suprise of Stephane Dion's success seemed built on his clearly drawn line of opposition to Stephen Harper's environmental agenda. It especially attracted the younger element, just as Trudeau did almost 40 years ago.

It will be interesting to see if the Canadian public gets on the environmental bandwagon. Dkion seems to be punching the right buttons, that we can adopt environmentalism and use it to our economic advantage. Whereas the Conservatives see the envoirnment and economy as opposing forces.

After seeing Al Gore's "An inconvenient truth", I must say that it would be great to see him back in the political arena too. What a possible great combination that could be for North America, Gore and Dion.

[auscanman]

The decision to choose Dion as leader of the liberals is sure to make the already interesting Canadian political scene even more so. Its good to see the environment finally getting the attention it deserves.

I have quite a few concerns with Dion. First the party can pretty much forget about making gains in western Canada. The choice of yet another Quebecer as liberal party leader is certain to confirm western Canadians belief that the party does not take western interests into account. I still dislike the Liberals as I see them as a party that tries to be all things to all people and consequently has no real direction and never achieves any meaningful results. Even under Dion, in the environment context they will undoubtedly try to take measures that appear to be robust to the public, but that are rather ineffectual and cost their friends in business as little as possible. Recently the support of the Green party has been at 10% nationwide. With those sorts of numbers they could probably win a few seats in the next election. I just hope very few of those 10% are now persuaded to vote Liberal, as the Green environmental policies will no doubt be stronger than the Liberals. An ideal outcome next election would be a Liberal minority with enough Green and NDP MPs to produce a majority, although I very much doubt that will be the outcome. In fact, I doubt Canada will ever have a single party majority government again. We're going to have to get used to the European system of coalitions and compromise.

From what I saw energy issues received no mention at the Liberal leadership convention...

[threadbear]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('auscanman', 'T')he decision to choose Dion as leader of the liberals is sure to make the already interesting Canadian political scene even more so. Its good to see the environment finally getting the attention it deserves.

I have quite a few concerns with Dion. First the party can pretty much forget about making gains in western Canada. The choice of yet another Quebecer as liberal party leader is certain to confirm western Canadians belief that the party does not take western interests into account. I still dislike the Liberals as I see them as a party that tries to be all things to all people and consequently has no real direction and never achieves any meaningful results. Even under Dion, in the environment context they will undoubtedly try to take measures that appear to be robust to the public, but that are rather ineffectual and cost their friends in business as little as possible. Recently the support of the Green party has been at 10% nationwide. With those sorts of numbers they could probably win a few seats in the next election. I just hope very few of those 10% are now persuaded to vote Liberal, as the Green environmental policies will no doubt be stronger than the Liberals. An ideal outcome next election would be a Liberal minority with enough Green and NDP MPs to produce a majority, although I very much doubt that will be the outcome. In fact, I doubt Canada will ever have a single party majority government again. We're going to have to get used to the European system of coalitions and compromise.

From what I saw energy issues received no mention at the Liberal leadership convention...

[auscanman]

Threadbear, I was saying that 10% support for the Greens IS massive. Also, I haven't been west of Ontario for a few years now, so I wasn't aware that there is now a conciliatory feeling in BC towards Quebec- there didn't seem to be such a feeling when I was there. Alberta is pretty much a write-off for the liberals so their choice of leader wouldn't make a difference there. I admire the Quebec culture... we certainly wouldn't be the great country we are without them.

On the alternative energy point, it's important that we don't let the agribusinesses divert the needed investments that must go to research into ramping up biofuel production with a crappy EROEI, as has happened in the US. Without a meaningful Green party presence in Parliament, I fear Dion's good intentions will lack backbone and the ability to overcome the lobbying efforts of these agribusinesses.

[nero]

It is good to see the environment and sustainable development paradigm being supported by the liberals but what would be more encouraging is if the conservatives were forced to move off the do nothing stance.

Until the political center has turned so green that it is political suicide for the conservatives not to have a serious green house gas policy we won't have the social consensus required to implement serious changes. Alberta is a serious problem in that regard. They are at least 5 years behind the rest of Canada when it comes to GHG.

[Dreamtwister]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('auscanman', 'F')irst the party can pretty much forget about making gains in western Canada.