Canada Out of Afghanistan?

Jack Layton, at the 2006 convention in Quebéc City, said, (full text)

Friends, Canadians believe in peace. That doesn't mean we think Canada is an island. There is a time and a place for answering the call. Canadians are prepared to fight wars that are right for our country. We've done so proudly. That's why we're so proud of our veterans.

But on this mission, Stephen Harper is out of touch with ordinary Canadians.

Canadians are not warmongers. Canada does not commit its soldiers to war just because that will get our prime minister in good with an administration of a certain sort in Washington. Canada doesn't commit soldiers to war without clear goals. Canada doesn't commit our soldiers without a plan. Canada doesn't commit our soldiers without a fraction of the numbers or resources needed to make a difference. Canada doesn't commit our soldiers without knowing what victory is.

And Canada doesn't commit our soldiers without the certainty that their efforts are part of a carefully constructed and balanced mission that holds real prospects of making the world a safer place. Canada doesn't do those things.

But Paul Martin and Stephen Harper did in Afghanistan. Paul Martin and the Liberals are gone. My friends....the time is coming for Stephen Harper to go too.

The first Canadian troops arrived in November 2001, making it an even 10 years + a little bit. Finally, the Harper government listened. The Globe & Mail is reporting that Dec. 12th all troops have left ("aside from a few cleanup details").

Oh, wait a minute. Farther down in the same article:

Canada still has roughly 950 soldiers in Afghanistan as part of a NATO-led mission to train the Afghan army. They are stationed at bases in Kabul and at satellite locations in the country’s north and west.

The Harper government abruptly agreed to take part in the training mission in the fall of 2010, after years of insisting that the military would leave Afghanistan entirely this year.

(still think your vote doesn't count?)

Megan Leslie, NDP environment critic, on climate change & Kyoto

A local member received  this email in response to her question about the United Nations Conference on Climate Change. I have reprinted it here as it provides clarity on the NDPs position on climate change.

+++++++++++++

From: <megan.leslie@parl.gc.ca>
Date: December 15, 2011 1:52:21 PM PST
To:
Subject: RE: United Nations Conference on Climate Change - urgent action needed
Anne,

Thank you for sharing your concerns about climate change with me. New Democrats have been very clear in the House of Commons that the government should live up to its commitments under existing climate change agreements, and that they should play a constructive leadership role in the establishment of the next international climate change agreement. 

New Democrats support the following key priorities for the next international climate change protocol:

       a fair, ambitious and binding agreement;

       adequate financing for the Green Climate Fund to assist developing countries with adaptation and mitigation of climate change;

       closing the “gigatonne gap” between the world’s promised emissions cuts and actual action; and

       ensuring that there is no gap in legally binding commitments when Kyoto runs out in 2012.

This Parliament, New Democrats have tabled for the third time the Climate Change Accountability Act, a legislative framework with the firm, science-based emissions reduction targets required for Canada to meet its international obligations. This bill, which was first introduced by Jack Layton and passed by the House of Commons on two occasions, was unjustifiably obstructed by the government and eventually voted down by the unelected Senate.

The government’s decision to withdraw from the Kyoto protocol is irresponsible and misguided. It will further damage Canada’s international reputation and compromise Canada’s voice in future international climate change negotiations. By withdrawing they are letting the big polluters off the hook and attempting to hide six years of total inaction on the environment by avoiding the emission reduction audits that are an important part of the Kyoto protocol. 

The reality is that Conservative’s domestic climate change plan is failing. The latest report from the International Institute for Sustainable Development shows that Canada is on track to achieve only 46% of its own weakened greenhouse gas reduction targets, which have been reduced by 90% since 2007, even when taking into account both federal and provincial reduction initiatives.

Climate change will not respect borders. It is estimated that the effects of climate change will cost Canadians over $5 billion annually by 2020, significantly affecting our health, economic well-being and national security. This is why climate leadership from our government is so important, both domestically and internationally.

It is still possible for Canada to return to a leadership position on climate change, by starting at home and adhering to our climate change commitments, choosing green energy over fossil fuels, and ensuring our communities can cope with a changing climate. We need to support the key priorities for a new climate change protocol, and make significant domestic green energy investments that work jointly with ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets.

A healthy, biologically diverse environment is the greatest gift we can leave future generations, and the global transition to a green economy offers Canada the opportunity to improve both our environment and our economy.

 By making smart investments that support our local economies, we can also establish a green technologies sector that will put Canada at the leading edge of international green trade.

Conservative inaction means that the rest of the world is moving forward in building the new energy economy.  Canada is being left behind, which is going to cost us jobs and trade opportunities.

The time for action is now. New Democrats will continue to pressure the government to improve its environmental record, and to take a leadership role in the fight to combat climate change.

Sincerely,

Megan

 
Megan Leslie 

Member of Parliament for Halifax
NDP Environment Critic
774 Confederation Building, House of Commons
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0A6
Ph: (613) 995-7614 / E-mail: megan.leslie@parl.gc.ca
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MeganLeslieMP
Website: www.meganleslie.ca

Okanagan Shuswap NDP AGM January 22, 2012

One federal leadership candidate has expressed enough interest that we have scheduled our next AGM for Jan. 22 at the Odd Fellows Hall in Armstrong. More info as we know more.

Happy holidays and best wishes for 2012.

First NDP Leadership debate

Missed the 1st NDP leadership debate? (Sunday 11am PST was difficult for me, too). Here's a link to CPAC's recording.
http://www.cpac.ca/forms/index.asp?dsp=template&act=view3&pagetype=vod&hl=e&clipID=6340