Monday 17 June 2013

Enviro-NO?

Canada needs to improve its international image in regards to environmental policy.

The government keeps changing its regulations and deregulating more and more when it comes to the environment, with the most recent budget cutting environmental spending by 20%. 

particularly Bill C-38 (the 2012 budget implementation bill) cut approximately 160 million from the environment ministry in 2012. 

Programs that were hit the hardest were climate change and air pollution focused, which is the environmental problems that Canada struggles with the most - being one of the worst internationally for carbon footprint per capita. Moving on to other aspects of the budget cuts...
The Experimental Lakes Area, a primary research facility on water conservation and environmental impacts has been nearly shut down because of these cuts. 

This environmental embarrassment goes hand in hand with the Harper Government pulling the plug on the Kyoto Accord.

Bill C-38 in particular is really aggravating the environmentally conscious community, with petitions arising all over the internet to revoke it.
 It removed fisheries protections, granted the right for the national energy board to make decisions on habitat destruction, and completely decimate the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act which has been in place for decades. As a country that relies rather extensively on the environment for economic support, one would assume...

Even a conservative government would recognize the importance of protecting sustainable forestry and eco-tourism.

Overall, it's clear that there are massive contradictions in the world of the Harper Government.

Internationally, Canada is reputed to have some of the most beautiful natural areas...
But our international image is slowly deteriorating with Harper Governments reduction in environmental protection and funding.

 The international community is catching on to the problems within Canada in regards to environmental devaluation. in 2012, Canada ranked below Costa Rica, Brazil, and 36 other countries on the status of environmental policies. 

It is so sad to be so disheartened by our own governments disregard for the importance of the environment. 


* Adapted fro GEO 426 assignment* 

*Would you like to sign the petition against C-38?
BE MY GUEST! *

2 comments:

  1. As a development student, and someone who is looking into doing their masters degree in climate change, I find myself insulted by Canada's environmental policies as well! As such a developed nation, we should be a role model for other country's environmental policy, but all we're doing is taking huge steps backwards. And the scary thing is I don't know what action I can take to improve the situation. Advocacy and protest and awareness will all get us somewhere, but it doesn't change the fact that we are creating such horrible climate change impacts right now. It frustrates me that Canada is an environmental dinosaur, and that it's going to take a lot more than what we're doing now to fix that.

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  2. I agree, I feel like its soo easy to take a step backwards, but so hard to push anything forwards. Everything these days is just reversing.

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