Stephane Dion must topple Stephen Harper's government
Liberal leader Stephane Dion has no choice. The threats must end. If Stephane Dion can make Kyoto work with his plan then he must force an election and just do it, instead of threatening to possibly call an election if Prime Minister Stephen Harper doesn't implement Stephane Dion's plan on Dion's behalf.
Stephane Dion's bleating about Kyoto is becoming intolerable:
With virtually no public announcement, the federal Conservative government has outlined why Canada will not meet its targets under the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse-gas emissions. In a report last week, Ottawa estimated that the required cuts in domestic emissions would devastate the economy, and explained why it won't purchase foreign emissions credits. It's a lucid summary of Canada's plight as an energy-exporting nation with a growing economy and an increasing population.
And, with sad predictability, Liberal Leader Stephane Dion has criticized it, maintaining that the Conservatives should put the opposition parties' tough redraft of the Clean Air and Climate Change Act to a final vote in the House of Commons. "This legislation must pass," Mr. Dion warned in a seven-page letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He added darkly that if the government ends this session of Parliament in the fall, Mr. Harper should bring the bill back for implementation; otherwise, he cannot count on Liberal support for a Throne Speech. The Tory minority government could fall.
Now there are two ways to meet Kyoto.
One is to drop emissions by nearly 600 million tonnes each year for the next five years. Annual emissions right now are in 750 million tonne range.
The other is to buy our way out of an 80% reduction in economic activity. But there are likely only to be less than 100 million tonnes of credit of available through this time period, well short of what we would need to buy. Obviously high demand and low supply will make these credits extremely expensive (assuming countries in a panic over climate change -- or in a panic over the politics of climate change -- begin to compete for these credits).
A way to cheapen these credits would be to increase the supply. A collapse of the Canadian economy caused by trying to meet Kyoto would make Canada's allowed emissions total available on the market. An economically ruined Canada could sell these credits and then use the money to try and keep as many Canadians alive as possible through the cold and the dark.
All in all, it is a nightmare scenario. But like all nightmares, it is easily dismissed by simply waking up and smelling the coffee. Stephen Harper and the Conservatives have been wide-awake for quite some time.
To stretch the metaphor, that pot of coffee was put on the stove by none other than Stephane Dion.
It was Stephane Dion who as environment minister oversaw Canada's continued increase in emissions. It was Stephane Dion who as a leadership candidate mewled pathetically that the resulting criticism the hypocrisy of his Kyoto position was unfair because it was really hard to be a Liberal environment minister in a Liberal government and actually get anything done about the environment.
What makes Stephane Dion think it would be any easier to be a Liberal environment minister in a Conservative government? Because that sure seems to be what he's trying to do. Stephane Dion wants the government to implement a plan drafted by Stephane Dion and the opposition parties. If the Conservatives don't let Stephane Dion play at being environment minister, Stephane Dion might try to force an election. Maybe.
The opposition plan is brutal. On paper it requires reaching Kyoto targets. It does so by forcing Canadian industry to pay taxes to emit, increasing cost of goods and services that will be passed to consumers, suppressing economic activity. Besides the cost of living, the only other thing that increases in this plan is the size of government in creating the bureacracy charged to crush Canada's economy. All to reduce the Canada's greenhouse emissions that account for less than 2% of the global total. Technically, only the emissions of carbon dioxide are targetted. Carbon dioxide is not even the most important greenhouse gas -- water vapour is, by far. And all this to fight global warming that many scientists still insist is either a myth or not connected to human activity.
But Stephane Dion says he might force an election if Stephen Harper doesn't implement Stephane Dion's plan.
This won't do. If Stephane Dion has a plan, he can put it in front of the Canadian people in an election. If he wins that election, he can implement the plan himself and take the credit or the blame for its success or its failure. But Stephane Dion does not get to make up a plan, then make Stephen Harper implement it, and blame Stephen Harper when the plan goes down in flames.
Stephane Dion is the Leader of the Opposition. His job is to oppose and criticize. His job is not to govern, either directly or by proxy.
If Stephane Dion thinks his plan will work, Stephane Dion ought to implement it. And that means putting his plan and his record up against Stephen Harper's plan and Stephen Harper's record and letting Canadians decide which they want to try.
But then Stephane Dion couldn't do squat for the environment when he was sat at the cabinet table for four years with that portfolio. Maybe he honestly believes he would be a more effective environment minister from the opposition benches.
If that's true, he's a nut.
Or maybe his failure as environment minister has made him fearful of actually leading, and he prefers to demand action, but then manipulate and threaten others to do the heavy lifting.
If that's true, he's a coward.
Or maybe he knows his plan is just so much nonsense, but he's using the environment as a means of gaining power, secretly knowing he has no intention whatsoever to implement this plan or any other when it comes to greenhouse gases and Kyoto.
If that's true, he's a cynic.
A nut? A coward? A cynic?
It would be refreshing to see Stephane Dion be a leader, or at least try to be one. He can do that by dropping all the pretense and posturing, and instead exhibit the power of his convictions, show faith in his plan, and proclaim his trust in the wisdom of the Canadian people to choose him if given the opportunity. In other words, promise in no uncertain terms to attempt to force an election at the earliest opportunity and then promise to implement the Clean Air and Climate Change Act himself if he was to win an election.
He's supposed to be a leader. He should be utterly clear and say Canadians can trust only him to implement this plan of his instead of complaining that Stephen Harper isn't doing what Dion is telling him to do.
Stephane Dion is trying to be prime minister. If he's not allowed to govern, Dion is suggesting he might attempt to force an election, an election in which Dion would actually be applying for the job of prime minister.
Do you see how absurd this is?
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Comments
You say absurd!
That is not fair. That is divisive.
You empty headed bath water.
Go away and amend your plan to suit me or I will taunt you a second time.
Posted by: Doug Newton at August 27, 2007 10:32 AM
ALL OF THE ABOVE! Dion doe not find it easy to make decisions. He finds it much easier to tell others how to decide.
Harper is the one who has caused problems for himself though. Instead of sticking to his guns with Rona Ambrose, he puts Baird in place to court Ontario. Harper knows Y2Kyoto is a farce and a scam but he is playing the game anyway. It will be his own fault if we again get the Liberals calling the shots. This is what happens when you don't have a backbone.
Posted by: George at August 27, 2007 11:10 AM
Between Duceppe and Dion, they should gang up on us and put their money where their mouthes are. Yea, George for calling the warts that Harper has, and not overlooking some of the foulups committed by the CPC. The real thing is governance by threat works, so don't count on any one cutting off their nose to spite their face. The two D's are smart enough to realize that- If it works, don't fix it. So, yes Dion is a nut, a coward and a cynic, but in this instance, not stupid.
Posted by: Dave from Campbell River at August 27, 2007 12:05 PM
Dion's been a total embarassment to the pro-Kyoto crowd. I want to know what Elizabeth May has to say if Dion does not force a non-confidence vote. Is the alliance over?
Posted by: at August 27, 2007 12:42 PM
I have asked on many Liberals blogs for Liberal supporter to defend and debate the Liberal GHG strategy when Dion had the chance to actually do something. So far I have been kicked off of Cherniaks site for asking Jason for a fact based debate on the enviornment, Had Garth call me names and ignore my challenge and got called names on Red Tory for challenging Dion's lies. But nobody wants to talk facts. Please somebody....anybody....
Cowards all of them. If the CPC cannot tear down this lying Liberal called Dion, then they need more help than we think. "I cannot lie" Dion should be made to pay for this LIE!
Posted by: Jeff at August 27, 2007 12:46 PM
'The real thing is governance by threat works, so don't count on any one cutting off their nose to spite their face.'
Yah, until someone calls your bluff.
Confidence motion of Kyoto or bust.
Confidence motion on Afghanistan vote in Feb 2008.
Oh, and these motions BEFORE PMSH sets out a new agenda.
Posted by: wilson61 at August 27, 2007 12:48 PM
Why the hell would we even bother with Kyoto? Fully implemented (and that includes the U.S. being on board), Kyoto will, according to its supporters, avert a temperature rise of about a tenth of a degree. That's not even measureable because it cannot be distinguished from natural climate variability and would fall within the margin of error of any temperature variance. For that we get to spend billions and possibly wreck our economy? Insanity!
Yet the Greenies and alarmists, who claim the planet is doomed unless we stop human-caused global warming, still continue to support Kyoto even though they know it will have no impact. They do this because they know that were they to propose the truly draconian energy-rationing and taxation schemes they believe is needed to save the earth, people would closely scrutinize their alarmist claims. And then the jig would be up for them. The public would quickly realize that their entire case rests on the pseudo-science of fudged climate models.
Posted by: JMD at August 27, 2007 02:24 PM
C'mon folks, remember "that's not fair, do you think it's easy to make priorities"?
He's a typical Professor, he and Iggy are a fine team, Flick and Flak. They both look like NUTTY PROFESSORS.
Don't think either of them are suited to be PM's. One can't make up his mind on anything, the other had a change of heart re the Iraq war because it was not a fit with the Liberal agenda, NO OTHER REASON.
We really need an election but those bozos will not provoke one, none of them are in any state to do so. But, then, they aren't all that swift, what have they got to lose?
Posted by: Libby at August 27, 2007 02:31 PM
Dion is simply huffing and puffing but he won't blow the house down. He's playing a typical Liberal move of running on the left. If he were to win government he would never implement Kyoto, just like Chretien never got rid of the GST. He knows it will wreck the economy but is only using it as a wedge issue.
So yes, he's a liar and a coward, but considering the Liberal's track record of broken promises has worked before you can't call his a fool.
Posted by: Andrew Smith at August 27, 2007 05:02 PM
Dion is simply huffing and puffing but he won't blow the house down. He's playing a typical Liberal move of running on the left. If he were to win government he would never implement Kyoto, just like Chretien never got rid of the GST. He knows it will wreck the economy but is only using it as a wedge issue.
So yes, he's a liar and a coward, but considering the Liberal's track record of broken promises has worked before you can't call him a fool.
Posted by: Andrew Smith at August 27, 2007 05:02 PM
I think Steve Janke’s third option is the closest to the truth:
"Or maybe he knows his plan is just so much nonsense, but he's using the environment as a means of gaining power, secretly knowing he has no intention whatsoever to implement this plan or any other when it comes to greenhouse gases and Kyoto."
In that case, Dion would be a fraud and a deceiver.
If the Liberals were to win the next election, even while running on the suicidally modified Clean Air and Climate Change Act, Dion would simply claim that the time lapsed between his economy-destroying pledge and taking office make it impossible to keep his election promise.
He would shamelessly blame the Conservatives for him not being able to keep his election promise, and he would then re-label the existing Conservative plan with a few cosmetic tweaks such as giving Rick Mercer a new comedy stint to promote “The New Two-Tonne Challenge.”
Posted by: Alan at August 27, 2007 05:24 PM
Alan hit the nail right on the head with this one, if he grows a set, and brings the govt down, and wins a majority, that is actually what he will say,, oh,,it took to long for me to get to power, I can not do it with out destroying the economy. Remember this is the same Mr. Dion that when he was in Cabinet before he became Env Minister, wanted nothing to do with it. Quote from Ms.Stewart
She notes Stéphane Dion was the federal/provincial minister at the time and he was against Kyoto. "When the prime minister only gets xxxx from everybody, why is he going to be supportive?" asks Stewart. Today, she sighs, Europe is "way ahead of us. Way ahead." - Northumberland
Posted by: Ken at August 27, 2007 06:23 PM
Enough picking on poor Stephane. You might prompt him to stop taunting and fart in our general direction instead. GHG be damned.
Posted by: Waterlooney Clayt at August 27, 2007 06:48 PM
What is that saying "He doesn't have the BALLS", but we all know that already. Seffie has to be one of my all time favorite LIEberals.
rod
Posted by: rod at August 27, 2007 08:44 PM
Steve, you hit the nail on the head when you wrote that Dion is trying to be the Prime Minister from the Opposition bench. The Liberals have for decades called themselves "Canada's Natural Ruling Party" - and, as the saying goes, if you repeat something enough times eventually you'll start to believe it.
So Liberals believe they are entitled by some Divine right to govern Canada, regardless of the outcome of elections; after all, they're just loaning power to Harper until they can get the electorate back with the program...
Posted by: Tom at August 27, 2007 09:36 PM
Dion doesn't have the balls to go to the polls. He wants the other leftists, bloc/ndp, to do so because he knows the public don't see him as a contender so he harps on about Afganistan and Kyoto. You can forget about any debate with liberal bloggers...their response is to take "cheap shots" at conservatives.
Posted by: Walter at August 28, 2007 10:44 AM
There could be, however, many Liberals "igging" him on. An election sooner rather than later with another Conservative minority as a second best senario would be a chance to get rid of Dion and select a new leader.
Posted by: muttsrus at August 28, 2007 12:08 PM
Do not forget that ol' Strong is in the backroom crying that he is not getting all the money he counted on when he set up Kyoto. The longer the CPC delays, the less $$$$ he gets, so the heat comes down from on high to Steffie to pass it along. As a puppet on a string Stef is just doing as he is told- never an original thought has or will issue from him.
Whether the Libs have a hope in hell of winning means naught. It's a matter of doing what is told by the real power.
Posted by: Dave from Campbell River at August 28, 2007 03:26 PM
 
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