The challenge of a generation is before us all

Submitted by
Ken Boshcoff M.P.

As Canadians celebrate Earth Week they will be thinking about one of the biggest challenges we face today which is reconciling humanity with the planet.
Old polluting practices are damaging the environment and causing changes in our climate that will be costly and will alter the face of the planet as we know it. The old way of thinking, that you have to choose between a clean environment and a strong economy is not only wrong, it is harmful to both. It is the way this current Harper government thinks, and it is they, the old thinkers, who will be left behind.
Those who will prosper in the 21st century understand that we need to build a sustainable economy for future generations. Just as previous Liberal governments created Medicare and the Canada Pension Plan we need to help Canada address the environmental challenge of the 21st century. Where Canadians recognize global warming as the challenge of our generation, Conservatives are still in denial. They still believe that helping the environment means hurting the economy.
That is why the Liberal Party has announced that every commitment we make will have a green aspect to it. Our major support for manufacturers will help to produce green technology and products while our infrastructure support will be focused on that which is environmentally sustainable like better transit or water treatment. That is also why we have proposed putting a price on carbon because we all know that we can no longer use our atmosphere as a free garbage dump.
This plan can not be accomplished without you; we can not do it alone. This plan requires the input and participation of all Canadians if it is to succeed and we need to begin at the community level. I encourage everyone to partake in environmental activities, such as tree-planting or community clean-up events. In our riding you can participate in “Spring Up to Clean Up” during the month of May. Information on these activities can be obtained through Eco-Superior at www.ecosuperior.org. Make a firm commitment to change your lifestyle in some way - to get out of your car, to use a clothesline instead of your dryer, or to switch to green, chemical-free products that don’t damage the planet. Take action and write or e-mail Prime Minister Harper to tell him you want his government to take a more ambitious approach to combating global warming.
It is long past the time to talk - it is time for action. Together we can create a cleaner and greener community and country from coast to coast for generations to come.