A sudden outbreak of sanity seems to have taken hold Canada. Firstly the idea of a carbon tax appears to have been killed off for good:
Conservatives kill carbon tax
Conservatives have kiboshed a carbon tax, Environment Minister Peter Kent confirmed Thursday.
“It’s off the table,” he told reporters Thursday after accepting an award from World Wildlife Fund International on behalf of Parks Canada.
“There’s no expectation of cap-and-trade continentally in the near or medium future.”
…and then this:
Government delays pulling plug on old-fashioned light bulbs
Tories propose pushing deadline to 2014 over lack of alternatives to incandescents
The Conservative government wants to postpone pulling the plug on incandescent light bulbs, saying it needs more time to allow for technological innovations and to deal with concerns about compact fluorescent lamps.
(H/T to Ross McKitrick, who offers to send a real estate guide, and to Bishop-Hill, where this post was pinched from, but good news needs sharing)
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Each Canadian winter is a survival test for it’s people. To a large part, this survival depends on adequate energy supplies. These facts tend to make Canadians very level headed and practical.
Like all populations, however, they also have a small proportion of idealists, who manage to rise to attention and some measure of power and influence. However, the harshness and reality demanded by winter, has a sobering effect on the population. This is why David Suzuki exists but is not as influential, as he would like.
The reality in Canada is one of cold. Her crops exist marginally and are continuously threatened by cold. Any cooling will immediately threaten it’s continued viability.
For Canada… Any Global warming is a pleasant walk in the park. GK
About time!
Now let’s get rid of McGuinty and drop the BC Carbon Tx: enough of fattening Hoggan’s wallet with BC Hydro Power Smart campaign…
Conservatives don’t believe in AGW, but they couldn’t say it outright while they were a minority government. They had to do the green song and dance. Now they they are certain to be in power for up to 5 years, they can try to turn public opinion around.
First order of business should be to provide a better balance of opinions about climate change on the Environment Canada web site. Just one example:
http://www.ec.gc.ca/scitech/2A953C90-CC12-42B2-BD0A-B51FECC2AEC3/FAQ_e.pdf
do all of you think that we have unlimited supply of oil?
Brits will soon be flying to Canada to buy light bulbs like they go to Belgium to buy tobacco.
Phil says: May 20, 2011 at 8:24 am
“do all of you think that we have unlimited supply of oil?”
No probably not, but in 3 or 4 hundred years we can likely come up with something better than 16th century windmill technology. We have Lots of time, Lots of Oil, Lots of Gas, Lots of Coal, Lots of Methane Hydrates, Lots of Uranium and Lots of un-tapped Hydro potential. In Canada we have lots of everything, it’s a really big place.
We have lots and lots of time, centuries.
Phil, chill out, take it easy, we have lots of time.
Phil, do you think we have an unlimited supply of mercury for light bulbs?
There hasn’t been much mention of the fact that this was announced at the presentation of one of the WWF’s highest honours – the “Gift to the Earth Award” for the recent growth of Canada’s national parks.
“Before Harper’s arrival in power, the protected natural areas set aside by the Canadian government counted for about 277,000 sq.-km of land and water. The Conservatives have since taken steps to add an extra 134,000 sq.-km. This represents an unprecedented increase of 48%.”
http://www.ottawasun.com/2011/05/18/harper-greener-than-youd-think
I have to wonder who David Suzuki wants to send to jail now. 😉
Tremendous news. I guess Dr Suzuki will have to return to ‘huddling with his wife in fear of climate change’ in his sprawling 10000+ sq ft digs on the Isle.
Kev in UK,
Come to Alberta. Anyone with a vocation ending in ‘neer could have a job probably tomorrow. The oil & gas industry (particularly the conventional oil & shale gas drilling end) is pretty much on the cusp of the next boom cycle. There is a tremendous shortage of skilled people across the board.
Not in Britain – “Construction slump and carbon costs blamed for 1,500 steel job losses”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/may/20/tata-steel-job-losses-yorkshire-teesside
“EU carbon legislation threatens to impose huge additional costs on the steel industry. Besides, there remains a great deal of uncertainty about the level of further unilateral carbon cost rises that the UK government is planning,” he added.”
Andrew30 says:
May 20, 2011 at 8:50 am
Phil says: May 20, 2011 at 8:24 am
“do all of you think that we have unlimited supply of oil?”
No probably not, but in 3 or 4 hundred years we can likely come up with something better than 16th century windmill technology.
————–
And maybe a lot sooner if we solve the supposed over-population problem with economic development, which will in turn free a lot of brains in Africa, India, etc to work on technology.
As a Canadian I am happy about that.
But, now we can also expect all sorts of ridiculous ‘tough on crime’ laws and massive expenditures on new prisons for a non-existent crime wave. All from the man who changed the name of the ‘Government of Canada’ to the ‘Harper Government,’ replaced all pictures of former Prime Ministers in the entrance to Parliament with his own, only allows reporters to ask pre-approved questions at official press conferences, was found for the first time in Canadian history to be in contempt of Parliament, colluded with the Queens representative to overthrow Parliamentary procedure, broke election spending laws, fired the President of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for telling the truth rather than doing as told… and on and on and on….
I guess you have to take the good with the bad in politics.
David Davidovics says:
May 20, 2011 at 12:37 am
I see you know how to use the shift key when typing proper names etc, but not when typing Canada? Are you trying to be insulting?
…..for the Lib/Dipper….need any cheese with that whine of yours?…. you left out the tried and true ‘the election system is f’ed” ….this is a blog debunking AGW remember? or maybe you confused it with the comments section at cbc.ca?
Next, check out The Mackenzie Brothers.
While watching, occasionally remember that both performers are actually PhDs! Tough to do …