Canada: Not a poor nation, but poorly run?

Canada is not expected to cooperate with many world leaders in Copenhagen during the climate change talks.

Our Prime Minister is only content to reduce carbon emissions by 20 per cent from 2006 levels by 2020, a target that is seen as a baby step.

Why do we move so slowly toward alternative forms of power? Are we too poor to pay our way to a sustainable, healthier future?

No.

George Monbiot writes the following:

“This is not a poor nation. It does not depend for its economic survival on exploiting this resource (i.e., the Alberta tar sands).

“But the tar barons of Alberta have been able to hold the whole country to ransom. They have captured Canada’s politics and are turning this lovely country into a cruel and thuggish place.


["Canada's image on the world stage is fading"]

“Canada is a cultured, peaceful nation, which every so often allows a band of rampaging Neanderthals to trample all over it.

“Timber companies were licensed to log the old-growth forest in Clayaquot Sound; fishing companies were permitted to destroy the Grand Banks: in both cases these get-rich-quick schemes impoverished Canada and its reputation.

“But this is much worse, as it affects the whole world. The government’s scheming at the climate talks is doing for its national image what whaling has done for Japan.”

Poorly run, indeed.

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PM Harper initially said he would not attend the current climate talks.

Why not?

.