An Open Letter to Joe Oliver

“Unfortunately, there are environmental and other radical groups that would seek to block this opportunity to diversify our trade. Their goal is to stop any major project no matter what the cost to Canadian families in lost jobs and economic growth. “No forestry. No mining. No oil. No gas. No more hydro-electric dams. “These groups ...

The Biggest Story of 2011 for Me? Weather Gone Wild

It is proving more difficult than I had expected to pick one event worthy of the superlative “Biggest Story of 2011.” The May election brought many changes to the face of Parliament. Each party was historically transformed — to their joy or despair. The two parties that suffered the most, the Bloc and the Liberals, ...

What I gave to every Member of Parliament

I had not been planning to give every Member of Parliament a present for Christmas/Hanukkah/holiday break, but the story of what I gave and why is, in its own right, a way of sharing the best of this season with you. On November 26, I was home in the riding and on Salt Spring Island. ...

Last thoughts on the Durban package

Alright, probably not last thoughts.  Analysis and review will continue for months if not years. By some lights it was a breakthrough to have China and India and Brazil talking about targets — even though they have only agreed to start getting there.  It is an enormous relief to have a second commitment period under ...

COP17 enters home stretch

The high level segment opened yesterday with speeches first from presidents and prime ministers, and, in the case of Monaco, royalty. Then down the pecking order to countries represented by ministers and those statements will continue, 3 minutes each today and tomorrow.  Peter Kent will speak this morning. Meanwhile, all attention on negotiations is on ...

Climate talks struggle to gain clear path forward

Durban is a lovely place. I have never been here before and I will probably see nothing but the beach in front of my hotel as I walk to the bus stop for the shuttle to the convention centre. This, COP17, is stop 17 on a marathon of inaction called global climate talks. Last year ...