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The following letter was sent to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

December 21, 2006

To: Harper.S@parl.gc.ca
Subject: Climate Change

To Prime Minister Stephen Harper,

I am writing to once again express my grave concern about climate change as a result of human-influenced global warming.

After a couple of decades of inaction and dithering, climate change has gotten away on us so much that it is becoming the preeminent issue of our time. Our global success or failure to slow global warming will determine the continuation of our society, perhaps even our species.

I am deeply disappointed that every time a Canadian Cabinet minister speaks up about climate change, most of what I hear is finger pointing and hand-wringing. Enough. How about some intention?

How about a decision to take action, starting today? With every passing day the impacts of climate change are already mounting, causing life-altering and sometimes lethal changes for polar bears, birds and frogs, Canada’s Inuit as well as Prairie farmers, and people of low-lying islands, particularly in the South Pacific.

As Canadians are among the most voracious consumers of energy worldwide, we are particularly obligated to learn fast and well the lessons of energy conservation, improving energy efficiency, and shifting towards use of renewable energy rather than fossil fuels.

In terms of concrete action, I have two particular questions:

1. What plans does your government have for slowing and sustainably managing oil and gas development, particularly that of Alberta’s oilsands? Part of this strategy must include a revision of the tax structure regarding oil and gas revenues to keep more money here in Canada; how and when will you accomplish this?

2. How will you lead Canadians to practice more conservation of energy, when we have a couple of generations who have grown up with constant access to cheap energy and now rely on an extremely wasteful lifestyle? How will you teach Canadians to take into consideration the various consequences of burning fossil fuels – smog, acid rain, and climate change, for instance – when we have had no incentive to do so previously?

I urge your government to step up to the plate and begin today to take new action on this critical challenge.

Sincerely yours,

Roger Gagné
Calgary, Alberta