Canada making its environmental way

What a side show.

The UN’s international summit on environmental issues in Bali finally got down to some sort of agreement on how to help mitigate global warming - eventually. This, after a hefty amount of Yank badgering, which spilled over to Canuck badgering.

They came up with an idea to compile a two-year plan to replace the Kyoto Protocol. No set targets were adopted, only a long-term approach.

During the event, critics were upset Environment Minister John Baird didn’t avail himself to some sessions, including some designed to criticize the government.

Why would Baird subject himself to that kind of foolishness?

Liberal leader Stephane Dion showed up to try and embarrass the government. Didn’t he have work to do someplace?

In the end, Baird did well in getting our point across that we can’t be expected to do anything to sacrifice our economy if China, India and the United States continue to have free range.

Many countries want Canada to deindustrialize or otherwise hobble itself economically in the name of environmentalism - or anything else, for that matter. Europe has just about evolved to its potential. They don’t have the huge distances to cover, with transportation being a major contributor to pollution. They can be holy.

I could imagine the minister would be surprised if those critics gathered had shaken their heads and admitted having 1,000 Trentons across the country because of environmentally-provoked industrial giveaways won’t help anyone.

Some folks, including many Canadians, are of the mistaken belief Canada is a wealthy, enlightened haven, always willing to give this or that to whomever.

A soft touch, in other words.

In this province alone this year, we gave thousands of steel working and chocolatier positions to Mexico because of the downside of free trade. We can’t afford that – not for free trade and not in some blind belief deindustrializing North America is going to help anyone.

The world doesn’t need another continually poor country.

We are advanced in some ways and there are pockets of well-being and affluence across this rural country. We have poverty that would shame some Third World countries – though not in the same numbers. Let’s never forget: a society and its economy are only as strong as their weakest links. We are still developing.

Somebody has to work for everything we have: grow the food, erect the buildings, work the steel, build and maintain the roads, create and keep the water and sewer systems going, flip the burgers, assemble and repair the cars, clean the joint up, immediately support those who do and protect it all.

It takes work, and teamwork. Everybody has to be on side. That includes ensuring there is no energy resource wasted, and there is as little pollution as possible. We have to get the best green technology as quickly as possible so as to not leave a carbon footprint. There is no doubt about that, but hobbling ourselves won’t help.

Let’s remember that many of these countries that are – like Canada – developing don’t yet have the expertise or the legislation for environmental protection and labour safety we have accumulated - often the hard way. The Bhopal chemical disaster in India in December, 1984 claimed thousands: all for cheap offshore labour. Pollution from China and India will make its way to our coast.

One way or another, we pay our way and aren’t beholden to anyone.