The truth of finding new renewable energy sources and building the
societies and economies of the future around harvesting and processing
them cannot be denied. In other words, we evolve as a species
technologically or we die.
It’s also a fact that our inevitable
destruction at our own hands is not really that imminent. I have heard
many jokes and insults alike hurled at liberals for worrying too much,
to fast and too soon about the state of our planet and of the
environment, while we fully know that things won’t go down tomorrow.
After all, the Liberal Party is the Green Party. Now that’s a case of too soon and too worried!
But
how can it be said that things such as hydro bills, dirty jobs,
cannabis usage and other petty problems are the priority of humanity and
in particular Canadians? The truth is that things like jobs and
anything else manufactured by us are replaceable, while the Earth itself
isn’t.
Thus many should realize that it is in our best interest to act on the impending threat sooner rather than later.
Unfortunately,
Conservatives don’t seem to think much of causing irreversible damage
to the environment; I mean after all, the environment is not a priority
for their masters out west.
Why should it be though? As mass
producers of fossil fuel, they sit comfortably, albeit temporarily, on a
stockpile of black gold, a stockpile which they promise to feed and
sell intravenously by pipeline to their true compatriots, the always
hungry Americans.
I swear by reading David Frum’s column, a
pretty intelligent and usually well spoken commentator, titled,
“Doubling down on the green-jobs money pit” in the National Post today
was like reading a hurriedly scribbled note on a scrap of toilet paper
by a Conservative that just discovered marijuana and smoked it for the
first time.
His opening salvo didn’t make much sense. In it he
likened the Green energy industry and its job creation stratagem to the
exotic fruit industry, an impracticality here in Ontario due to obvious
climate challenges in growing things such as bananas and mangoes.
It
was like saying we shouldn’t conduct solar energy research in the North
Pole, where the air is cleaner, because we can’t grow plants there yet.
It is an argument from the point of view of climatic unsuitability that
has nothing to do with solar energy research, just like Frum’s bananas
and coconuts argument.
Also Mr. Frum, usually a proponent of
free markets and good enterprise, took an unexpected jab at companies
that have been offered deals to spearhead the development of the green
energy industry here in Ontario.
Mr. Frum attempted to summarize the McGuinty green jobs plan in two short flimsy statements.
This is what he said:
“At
enormous cost to the Ontario taxpayer and electricity user, the
McGuinty government has joined together two unrelated ideas into one
disastrous energy policy:
Idea 1: Ontario should pay the price to shift from coal fired electricity to wind and solar power.
Idea
2: Ontario should subsidize companies that manufacture wind and solar
generators. This is the so-called “green jobs” strategy, and a moment’s
thought shows how foolish it is.”
His continuing explanation is
so far off from the truth in the article that it’s not worth quoting, so
I’ll summarize his critique of the above points.
On the first
point he makes the case that fully transitioning from coal-powered
energy to renewable energy is going to be extremely expensive. This
statement is true. Then Mr. Frum continues to say that it is a senseless
proposal to subsidize companies in the sector while the operating costs
for the venture are going to be so huge. He proposes the purchase of
equipment at the cheapest rates possible.
In all, his argument on
the first idea is an argument that suggests if something is too
expensive to implement, regardless of the long term positive impact it
will have, we shouldn’t try implementing it.
I would like to
disagree by simply saying that the Liberal plan is a short term
suffering for long term gain approach while the Conservative plan for
Ontario is the reverse, quick jobs and temporary security at the risk of
long term unemployment, loss of competitiveness, future deficits and
increased dependence on Alberta, not too mention real damage to the
environment.
This is also evident as news surfaced last week
that the Conservatives are shutting down data archives and research
aimed at examining and tracking ozone layer depletion. The ozone layer,
last time I checked, is non-renewable, just like Albertan oil, but more
life-threateningly important.
Frum’s critique of the second
point however does make a little bit more sense. In it he suggests the
exporting of green energy products from the province, whether it’s the
manufacture of wind turbines and solar panels or green energy in the
form of a service, would be an economically sound approach. He says that
at least this way some of the subsidizing costs can be mitigated for
the province.
This is not a bad idea, it would make sense
economically for Ontario and for the jobs the green energy strategy is
trying to create.
However, in its present state the green energy
pact is an infinitely better alternative than no green job stratagem at
all, a measure the Hudak Conservatives vowed to pursue.
Finally,
Frum’s suggestion of firing McGuinty, a premier that can be said to at
least have a bold vision for the province, falls a couple of words short
of a full endorsement for the continuing production of dirty energy
and the conservative will to keep our province in the 20the century, a
century behind the rest of the advanced world.
So when it comes
to energy policy, Tim Hudak’s “Changebook” isn’t a change oriented
platform at all. The man should at least have the nerve to say he
doesn’t care about the future and that his only focus in improving
Ontario is for the short term.
A link to the National Post article by David Frum, http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Doubling+down+green+jobs+money/5417340/story.html
