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Bad Canada

Canada has changed.  No longer boring, it is now one of the richest countries in the world, with the largest reserves of oil after Saudi Arabia - alas, it is also becoming more conservative, in a Bush-like way.  The Canadian government has signalled it will not renew its Kyoto obligations.  Indeed, the decision (aided and abetted by the UK) to develop the Alberta Tar Sands, is horrific - if this goes ahead, dangerous global warming will be unstoppable.  I am not sure what to do, as an expat Canadian, except to say there is a new kind of international figure swaggering on the world stage: The Ugly Canadian - the Toxic Canuck.

Comments

Brian Busby said…
Canada has not changed. It was never a boring country, nor was it ever anything but one of the richest in the world.

Canada is not becoming more conservative, rather it is now governed by a conservative party that managed to eke out a slim majority through winning a mere 39 percent of the vote in the last election. The opposition, which garnered over sixty percent, consists of four vote-splitting parties that range from centre-left to left. Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition is found in the New Democratic Party - social democrats all.

No new international figure is swaggering on the world stage - it's just a more cocksure Stephen Harper. He is the Ugly Canadian; his tar sand tramps are the Toxic Canucks.

Majority in hand, the Conservative Party of Canada now feels safe in revealing itself. Mark my words, they it will be turfed in the next federal election.

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