In what is becoming a template approach to governing our country, and unfortunately an acceptable form of governance to Canadians, a docile Federal Government patiently waits in the wings for an American position. With the American position established, Ottawa can then decide on a Canadian position. Fellow Canadians, is this not sovereignty squandered? Is this not a waste of nationhood and a blatant underestimation of the power and ingenuity of Canadians and the Canadian economy?
While I agree that, since signing the North American Free Trade Agreement, the economies of Canada, the US and Mexico have become closely intertwined, I am also of the opinion -- whether climate change is purely an act of nature or heavily influenced by man -- that we have a moral imperative to choose newer cleaner technologies over old polluters. Consider it an insurance policy. Consider it a way to transition from an economy built on dying consumerism, to something fresh, with new job and technology opportunities. Whatever stance you take on climate change, it's hard to argue that the oil economy is in a fight for its life, and dare I say it, will be our energy 'Waterloo' if we do not have the courage to move boldly and quickly.
The demand for a major shift in our approach must be driven by mainstream Canadians. We are sleepwalking by allowing our current Government to align itself with the old world approach and not asking it to make difficult, informed decisions. Perhaps we are mesmerized by the double-speak coming out of Peter MacKay's mouth on the should-we-stay-or-should-we-go Afghanistan approach. Perhaps Canadians can't see past the idiocy of the Minister of Natural Resources and her sexy isotopes. But one thing is for certain, all this stupidity has compromised the integrity of Canada.
We are now the obstructionist, laggard sidekick to America. We support too-big-to-fail auto companies, just like the Americans. We have lost all credibility on the international stage, undermining the very international processes we worked so hard to create. We have changed the language used by our diplomats and bureaucrats to give it an unhealthy ideological bent, in line with our neighbours to the South. I have blogged about all of this before -- the world has taken note, and the world thinks a lot less of Canada.
I wouldn't have said this a year ago, but given the very rapid shift in context and perspective, I think the failed Liberal leader, Stephane Dion, may have been prescient with his Green Plan. (I suspect my friend MD would agree.) I also think that Canadians, and our environment, are poorer have having missed an opportunity for much-needed reform, which is clearly not going to come from this Government.
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Interested in following Canada in inter-governmental processes? Or other countries for that matter?
Last Friday, the United Nations Department of Public Information launched: United Nations Member States: On the Record. Here is the launch press release, reproduced from the United Nations intranet, which also includes a publicly accessible link. I thought readers might find this tool useful. Enjoy!
Their work in the principal organs determines the work of the Organization throughout the world, and yet finding out exactly who said what has until now required an in-depth understanding of the Organization.
A new project, United Nations Member States: On the Record, makes information easily accessible that was once complicated and difficult to find.
This website is an easy-to-use research tool that provides access to information from a variety of existing United Nations databases and websites. Just click a link to get to the most up-to-date, accurate, and historically comprehensive information on a Member State’s participation in the United Nations.
Based on the experience of the librarians at the reference desk of the Dag Hammarskjöld Library in New York, this tool responds to frequently asked questions about United Nations members.
On the site, each Member State has a page with links to dynamic searches in various United Nations databases. Over 4000 links provide current information -- without the user needing to know how to use each database.
Information available for each Member State includes: the key documents related to its membership in the United Nations, statements made before the principal organs, draft resolutions sponsored, periodic reports submitted on Human Rights conventions, and more.
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