Liberals' Hypocrisy on the Environment

March 12, 2008

Having failed Canadians for 13 years on the environment, Liberals yesterday were again polluting the atmosphere with their hypocritical criticism of the Conservative Government’s tough new regulations on greenhouse gas emissions.

Of course, by now Canadians know the Liberal environmental record – including that of former Environment Minister Stéphane Dion – is one of big talk followed by total failure.

While Liberals were avoiding tough decisions and wasting taxpayer dollars on feel-good, do-nothing publicity campaigns, Canadian emissions skyrocketed to 32% above our Kyoto commitments and air quality sank to next-to-last in the OECD.

Stéphane Dion’s record of inaction is so bad that even his own deputy leader has criticized him saying “Stéphane, we didn’t get it done.”

Instead of apologizing for the harm their inaction inflicted on the environment, the Dion Liberals have chosen to attack the Government’s actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions -- the very actions that the Liberals themselves were never bold enough to take.

Yet, even while they intensified their whining and sniping from the sidelines, Stéphane Dion was still building on his appalling record of inaction.

On Monday night the NDP introduced a motion that mirrored Mr. Dion’s criticism of the Conservative Government’s environmental plans. If Stéphane Dion truly had the courage of his convictions this would have been his opportunity vote down the government over the environment. Of course, by doing so, Mr. Dion would have risked triggering the very election that he that he is clearly terrified of facing.

Therefore, not surprisingly, the Dion Liberals once again sat on their hands and let the NDP motion fail. In doing so Mr. Dion chose to support the Conservative Government’s greenhouse gas reduction plans.

In government Stéphane Dion refused to take action. In opposition Stéphane Dion is frightened to take a stand. No wonder more Canadians are concluding that Stéphane Dion is not a leader and he’s not worth the risk.