Home > Issues > Letters to the Feds > Letter

The following letter was sent to Bill Graham, Liberal Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre, the four party leaders in the House of Commons and their respective environment minister/critics.

January 8, 2007

Dear Members of Parliament:

I know that I was not the only one alarmed when I heard of the discovery, over the recent holiday period, of the break-away of a major part of the Ayles Ice Shelf on Ellesmere Island. It’s as if a part of Canada is now floating freely, no doubt to warmer southern waters, where it will surely melt if only after it drifts into shipping lanes.

Unfortunately this is but one symptom of climate change, a situation that is increasingly gripping the entire world as an urgent issue.

I am writing to urge you, as parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles, to put aside cynical partisanship - and any obsession on election readiness - in order to give Canadians a chance, through all of our elected representatives, to tell the world that we will not sit idly by and let climate change race onward unchallenged. We will take action by completely overhauling the Clean Air Act.

Surely Canadians will find other distinguishing characteristics among parties come election time. Before then, I hope that you will show some unity in addressing the frightening state of our environment.

Sincerely,

Kenn Chaplin
Toronto, Ontario