The Do-Nothing approach: works every time.

I've given PM Harper the benefit of the doubt and even agreed with him on a few issues, not much, but a few.

But I'm once again exasperated at the mismanagement of the entire issue of climate change and the environment in general.

First, you appoint Rona Ambrose as minister of the Environment, who has little experience in the field, thinks that tapping maple sap for syrup "hurts trees", and doesn't seem all too excited about the portfolio in the first place.

But how could he top that? Why, by sending her to chair the next round of discussions on targets and mechanisms for the continual implementation of the Kyoto Protocols. Brilliant!! How hypocritical can we be? Let's find out.

First, to be fair, we did little under the Chretien and Martin government and as a result, our emissions increased a lot and there's probably no chance of us meeting our targets. So her solution: blame the previous government, ask the other delegates (who's actually trying to meet their required targets) to give Canada a free pass on missing our goals and ask for breaks for our industries. That's like telling my supervisor that I'm not going to graduate because I haven't finished my thesis, but let me get my degree and convocate anyways, and hey, why doesn't he help me fast track my accreditation? Simple, right?

How can Harper be more two-faced, you asked? Why, let me tell you. He's told the nation that he wants a "Made in Canada" approach to reducing climate change. And yet, we're somehow still committed to the Kyoto Protocols? How does that work? You can't have it both ways. You either commit Canada to Kyoto or back-off and face the consequences, nationally and internationally. Minister Ambrose also gives other half-hearted excuses, but Gwyn's more or less nailed them all.

It gets even better though. So, what was the "Made in Canada" approach that he favours?

"The Conservative ministers said all federal dollars for the environment will be spent in Canada to help the private sector take the lead in developing technology for such things as cleaner use of fossil fuels and renewable energy."

So if that's the case, why are the Conservative government cancelling a program (Energuide) aimed at helping homeowners get access to these technologies, thereby increasing demand and pushing the market towards green technology? And not just middle and high-income earners, they're canceling the program for low-income homeowners too, the people who probably benefit most from energy-efficient housing? So, what was their excuse? Why, let me share it with you, from the Toronto Star article:

The Conservatives say EnerGuide is being dropped because the cost of the audits was too high. Last year, audits in support of homeowners' energy renovation grants totalled $15.1 million out of the total $44.3 million cost of the program, Natural Resources officials said.

"We are going to ensure that every single Canadian taxpayer gets value for their money," Lunn said yesterday when asked in the Commons to justify the decision.

So, because audits require specialized professionals, it's expensive. If there were more demand for audits, we'd need more professionals, there'd be more competition between them, which lowers the price, etc, etc. Simple economics, right? But we need more people to buy-in, and as North Americans are usually slow on the uptake with respect to the environment, we tend to need a bit of carrot from the government. But how does Natural Resources Minister Lunn want us to get value for our money?

By taking the carrot home. Clearly, that's the best solution overall.

I can rant on and on but there's no point. No one listens, least of all the Conservative Government. I'd hate to say it. Maybe we need a nationwide blackout, coupled with massive freak storms and complete ecosystem collapses. Maybe that'll finally wake us up, I don't know. Because logic and reason doesn't seem to work anymore.