The Conservative's Extraordinary Priorities

The Conservative Party has such extraordinary values. They're so funny. It's budget time and they have to chip away at the deficit. Where to cut? Hmmm. Should they cut important environmental services, including climate change research, or should they end the billions in subsidies to fossil fuel companies?

Guess what the Conservatives plan to do?

Forget that fact that in 2009 during the G20 Summit in Pittsburg, Prime Minister Harper signed a statement with the other G20 countries committing to end fossil fuel subsidies. Canada gives $1.4 billion to oil countries every year through tax breaks, etc. (by the way: five of these companies are the largest in the world).

This past week, we learned that the government plans to cut $1.6 billion in environmental services, including climate change research, but no cuts to subsidies as promised.

Wow.

I am involved in the Climate Action Network’s campaign to urge the government to keep its international promise and cut fossil fuel subsidies. Please join us. Write to Harper and Flaherty asking them to keep the environmental services, but end fossil fuel subsidies. Mailed letters are better (it’s free!) as politicians tend to take them more seriously than emails.

Prime Minister Harper
Parliament of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A9

Calling is effective too - (866) 599-4999. Ask for the Prime Minister’s Office.

For more on the fossil fuel subsidies, check out the op-ed I wrote for rabble.ca, which was posted last week.

It's time to end Canada's billion-dollar handout to big oil and coal