March 24, 2004 “Science ‘Matters A Budget We Can Live With David Suzuki David Suzuki Foundation It’s funny. Exactly a year ago at this time I wrote about M™ how Canada had changed. We had just adopted Kyoto, and the fed- eral government was about to release its first budget since that historic step. Many people, including me, expected to see some concrete action in the budget as to how Canada would become a more effi- cient nation and start reducing climate change. What we got was a budget line item: Money for Kyoto—$2 billion—which is still largely unallocated. In other words, we have money, but no plan on what to do with it, or more importantly, how to achieve our goals so we dont look like welchers on the world stage. We've made a promise and we have just eight years to show substantial progress, otherwise we could permanently lose the lustre off our green image. Let's face it—Canada is rapidly falling behind other parts of the world in terms of becoming more efficient, more com- petitive and less polluting. We rank near the bottom of developed countries in terms of environmental performance and the gap is widening. While places like Denmark, Sweden, and even California are setting ambitious clean air and clean energy targets, Canada seems stuck in first gear, blowing blue smoke. Before the last budget, I pointed out that if we put off dealing with global warming for another year, we would miss an incredible opportunity; and we have. Every day that we continue to heavily subsidize the coal, oil and natural gas industries, we get further from our goals and mired deeper in a polluting, 20th- century economy that is dragging us down. So what is the federal government doing? Well, it will soon release its “one tonne challenge”—a communications ini- tiative to encourage Canadians to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. It’s a good program. A consumer component to reducing pollu- tion certainly makes sense, as we can all help reduce emissions and there are many no or low-cost ways for consumers to do that and save money too. But for the federal government's chal- lenge to be remotely credible, it must coincide with strong policy changes that encourage clean industries and discourage dirty ones. The fact.is that 60 percent of Canada’s heat-trapping emissions come from industry. Canadians should be out- raged if the federal government tries to fob the onus of reducing emissions onto the public rather than going after big pol- luters—especially since our taxes already subsidize these same polluting industries! It’s time to change. What we need to see in the budget is some sign of Canada moving into the 21st-century. Right now, every Canadian subsidizes the fossil fuel industry, the most polluting industry in the country, which delivers relatively few jobs per dollar invested. Planned massive expansions in this industry will further chain us to pollution and prevent us from reaching our Kyoto goals. We need to immediately shift incentives from this industry to clean energy sources, like wind and solar power, as other countries are already doing. i And that’s just a start. Federal gas taxes, currently going into general revenue, should be allocated to funding public transit projects. Canada is the only G8 country that does not have a national pro- gram to finance public transit. That is simply embarrassing. The federal govern- ment cannot in good conscience tell Canadians to start taking already-overbur- dened public transit systems without pro- viding substantial funding to improve them. To further encourage Canadians to use transit, employer-provided transit passes should be considered non-taxable benefits. There are all sorts of ways to make Canada’s budget smarter, cleaner and more in line with the rest of the world of the 21st-century. We've had a year with no plan, but the coming budget is a chance to change that. I certainly hope Canadians will not be disappointed yet again. Take the Nature Challenge and learn more at . Kali Thurber Opinions Editor Too often I find myself won- dering if anybody in this city, Words a province, or even world per Soret bakcng noe (oteo met hace lot lation for the hardships that others go through, or if every occurrence is just placed in the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) category until it finally rental ter) ones DRa ST Kee fas worth a bit of reflection, espe- cially considering this rather sombre Stolen Words. Almost every Saturday afternoon I walk past a loyal fundraiser on the corner of Charles and Commercial, who holds a clipboard in his righteous hands and gives his Opinions ¢ the other press © all to identify rita do-gooder in the crowd with change in their pockets. His notable line to draw in future charity is always pronounced with the utmost sincerity and paired with a genuine smile. He asks politely, “Excuse me, do you have a moment for the chil- dren?” And you know what? [I've watched probably hun- dreds of people pass him with smirks or sweet nods, but I’ve never seen anyone stop to inquire how one raved aT do this for even a moment. Angela Blattmann OP Photographer Questions by Trevor Hargreaves Name: The Darkness (AKA Duran Duran) Age: 25 eat 50 eggs? skilled at? Breakdancing, I used to be able to Windmill... What is your special skill in life? I haven't figured it out yet; I'll have to get back to you on that one I think. Well do you have anything that’s just a little special? Crochet and Macramé. There, you beat it out of me. If you were to take a job at the circus, what would you be? - A lion tamer! Program at Douglas College: Candlestick making. Edible sex candle- sticks that smell like looove. If you were given $1500.00, could you No, I'd need to be paid more. Ok, how much then? Uh, $2000.00. What form of dancing are you most Name: Tria Age: 18 asylum in? Program at Douglas College? Arts - Poli Sci/English/Journalism What movie would you most like to watch in 3D? Star Trek: First Contact Drink of choice? Usually vodka Malibu! If you were politically exiled from Canada, which country would you seek New Zealand Would you rather be well dressed and poverty stricken, or an independently wealthy nudist? Hey, forget clothes, I'll take the money! Wait, do I live in a place that’s warm all year? Or somewhere like Kamloops... If you were to perform a death-defying act, what would it be? I would sky dive into a pit of fire. Er, and how would you defy death? Oh, there’s a little lake in the middle. Who would you most like to spank? Your momma! http://www.otherpress.ca «© Page 7