Good environmental news for Canada?

As most people know, Canada and many other developed countries have failed miserably at following the Kyoto Protocol and other environmental plans to cut down carbon emissions. With the chance of using more renewable resources for energy and new technology that helps limit our carbon footprint, you would think that Canada, would have already adopted a strong environmental plan.

I continue reading people's comments on sites such as CBC about their frustration with Canada's government. The government has continued to use the excuse of politics getting in the way of creating a plan to reduce our environmental impact. Apparently it would be too economically damaging to cut our carbon emissions drastically.

In my opinion, the environmental damage will (soon) one day be so destructive that politics or not, we're going to have to take responsibility. I'm not an economist, but when you think logically, wouldn't there be a worse impact on Canada's economic system if we wait for that day?

Every news site I visited today has an article about Liberal Leader Stephan Dion's new carbon tax plan. It seems that our Liberals are taking advantage of the fact that our Conservative government isn't doing anything about the impact Canada is having on the environment.

There has already been attacks by other parties about the plan. Even if the plan isn't perfect yet, how can anyone attack it when we aren't following any plan right now? I think that with an election coming in a year and a bit, other parties might be surprised at how many people will vote based on these types of plans.

Environmental responsibility is increasingly becoming a much needed 'trend,' with more and more news coverage on what other cities or countries are doing to help the environment and limit their carbon footprint. The past two nights I've seen TV news coverage on teenagers who are going out and planting trees, carpooling, riding their bikes, etc. These teenagers are smart, and will become our new voters over the next few years.

It's time Canada acknowledges the current and next generation's concern for the environment. I think every party's priority should be to make a plan, and whoever gets in, better follow through with it. Canadians are getting fed up with fake promises and these so-called "politics."

L