A new poll clearly shows the Harper government is not acting on the wishes of the Canadian public on climate change. The poll of 1502 respondents was conducted from November 30 to December 2, 2009 by Léger Marketing. It revealed that 74 per cent of Canadians strongly agree or agree that Canada should take on more ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets.
This flies in the face of what the federal environment Minister Jim Prentice claims, as he recently defended the Conservatives’ abysmal climate change record by stating: “Our plan and policy is clear and Canadians support it.”
These new numbers tell a different story – clearly Canadians want more action taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change.
It all begs the question – who are Harper and Prentice representing while in Copenhagen at the COP 15 Summit where they both will be next week? It’s also one reason why CUPE is present at COP 15: to work with others in the Canadian Labour delegation and our allies in the environmental and social justice movements to demand the Harper government listen to what Canadians want and then act accordingly.
Canada has been centred out as an obstacle to negotiations in Copenhagen. This approach does not represent what Canadians want. Speak up and tell Harper and Prentice that you want stronger action taken on climate change domestically and that you want to see Canada working to help put together a strong, fair and binding climate change agreement in Copenhagen.
Email Prentice: Prentice.J@parl.gc.ca and/or Jim.Prentice@ec.gc.ca
Email Harper: pm@pm.gc.ca and/or harpes@parl.gc.ca
Call Prentice: 403-216-7777 or 819-997-1441
Call Harper: 403-253-7990 or 613-992-4211