Who does Elizabeth May blame for missing the Kyoto commitments?
Elizabeth May blames Prime Minister Stephen Harper for Canada being in the situation in which it finds itself, and that is that Canada cannot meet the Kyoto commitments.
But Elizabeth May also blamed Stephane Dion, or so it seems.
A bit of a blooper, I think.
Jane Taber interviewed Elizabeth May on CTV's Question Period today. In the course of the discussion, the issue of what the Throne Speech said about the Kyoto Protocol came up. As you recall, Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party, said that the Conservatives did not deserve to be thrown out of office over what the Throne Speech said about Kyoto Protocol. Of course, this raised a lot of eyebrows concerning Elizabeth May's conflicting commitments to the environment and to her allies in the Liberal Party.
Well, in her explanation, Elizabeth May made a bit of a mistake:
It said the truth, unfortunately, given all the years of inaction it is likely impossible to reach our Kyoto targets.
She lingered a moment on "all" so I rendered it in italics in my transcipt.
Now that can't possibly be true, of course. Clearly, all of the inaction happened during the Conservative watch, which has lasted only 19 months. Not even a full two years. If you were to take her words literally, and assume she meant "all the years" as at least two years and almost certainly more, then she would be saying that Stephane Dion, currently leader of the Liberal Party but then the environment minister under Paul Martin, was also guilty of inaction.
If Elizabeth May did accidently let slip that the Green Party holds Stephane Dion in part responsible for missing the Kyoto targets (perhaps more responsible, since any engineer will tell you that the longer you delay fixing a problem, the harder it is, so in all fairness the Greens would have to concede that the Liberals under such a scenario left the Conservatives with a far more difficult task), then it calls into question the Green Party wisdom in naming Stephane Dion as the environmentally best choice for prime minister.
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Comments
I see this as another incriminating election ad, next to "We didn't get it done." fame.
The longer Dion remains as Liberal leader, the worse it gets for the Liberals and the better for Conservatives.
Posted by: Observer at October 28, 2007 12:43 PM
I had to replay the clip to hear it. Just the tiniest little comment but it packed a wallop.
Good catch, Steve! Some definite election ad possibilities there.
Posted by: Joanne (TB) at October 28, 2007 03:16 PM
May Day, May Day! Wiccan greenie becomes pseudo Christian Priest to ensure the feedbag stays on even in the senior years! Keep telling lies and 'they' will ensure you get your just rewards.
Posted by: Real Conservative at October 28, 2007 03:49 PM
Is this not the same card carrying communist May? So another nutter makes the news. Between the NDP and Liberals it is a toss up these days to decide which is the most ridiculous.
Posted by: Alain at October 28, 2007 04:39 PM
Ms May is up to her you name it delving in politics and religion in the same time period. She'll have plenty of time to study for the priesthood of the Anglican church, it's unlikely politics will require her undivided attention.
Dion was used by Lizzie, she's really not a friend of anyone, her little comment in the clip speaks volumes. One thing for certain, she will not use Harper!
Posted by: Libby at October 28, 2007 05:33 PM
Should Dion abdicate leadership, undoubtedly the deal with Lizzie May will be voided, and she knows it. She will be of no value to the next Liberal leader, and she will be challenged by a Liberal candidate the her riding.
I suspect Lizzie May can feel Dion's decline in the Liberal party, and she is striking out on her own to save her green arse.
Posted by: Observer at October 28, 2007 07:10 PM
"I suspect Lizzie May can feel Dion's decline in the Liberal party, and she is striking out on her own to save her green arse."
My sentiments exactly.
And for someone studying to become a minister, she certainly doesn't sound like the forgiving, love-thy-neighbour (including the PM) kind. I've heard her make some pretty harsh statements against him, not what one would expect from a person of the cloth.
Posted by: Gabby in QC at October 28, 2007 10:49 PM
I wonder how long it will be before the Greens feel the knife in their back? I have a feeling that Ms. May cares a whole lot more about Ms. May than she does the environment.
I can't wait to see the Liberal Party try to run a tight campaign with Garth Turner, David Orchard and Lizzy May.
Posted by: northbaytrapper at October 29, 2007 12:57 AM
I'm no fan of the Liberals, but blaming Mr. Dion for the lack of political will that the Liberal party or the Canadian public in general had for the Climate Change isn't a good argument. Mr. Harper walked into an extremely different political "Climate" than Mr. Chretien or Mr. Martin did.
What I saw under Martin was a frustrated Dion unable to actually do anything he thought needed to be done as the Martin government had no interest in doing anything.
It is consistent for Elizabeth to suggest that there was inaction, and to even put part of the blame of the Chretien and Martin governments for not seeing past the lacking political will of Canadians, and yet she still supports Mr. Dion himself despite a Liberal party that isn't as supportive.
If the Liberals kick Dion out as many seem to want to do, it may set the stage for another floor crossing.
Posted by: Russell McOrmond at October 29, 2007 08:52 AM
Let's blame Bill Gates.
Posted by: Feldwebel Wolfenstool at October 29, 2007 12:54 PM
Come on Russell McOrmond, you're in denial. Snap out of it, it's okay to admit that even your Mr. Dion is capable of mistakes.
Posted by: Marc at October 29, 2007 11:37 PM
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