7 August 2001
Editor, Globe & Mail (Toronto),
Regarding David Anderson's rebuttal ("Joe Clark is only 'green' with envy) to Joe Clark's recent piece on the environment and the Progressive Conservative record: David Anderson, in particular, and the federal Liberals, in general, have always had trouble grasping the difference between activity and achievement.
The test of the environmental record of any political party is this: Is the environment cleaner, healthier, and better protected today than it was when the party was elected to government? For the federal Liberals the answer is a resounding, emphatic, unequivocal no. The Canadian environment is dirtier, making more people sick, and at greater risk today than it was in 1993 - all thanks in large part to the federal Liberal's environmental policies. Moreover, even today there are no environmental programs that David Anderson or his predecessors have put in place that will result in a healthier environment by the time the Liberals go back to the polls to seek a fourth mandate.
As for the Mulroney-Clark Progressive Conservatives, they indeed did leave the environment better protected after their two terms in office. While Joe Clark can point to many major environmental accomplishments of his government, like the landmark acid rain agreement and Canada's commitments at Rio, David Anderson and the Liberals have nothing to point to except endless consultations and being made the symbolic President of a UN agency, none of which will actually help protect the environment.
Currently, among developing nations and according to independent agencies like NAFTA and the OECD, Canada enjoys the status of being one of the worst polluters on the planet, and one of the most obstructionist when it comes to global efforts to deal with environmental problems.
Sincerely,
Stephen Best
Founding Director