One Blue Marble Blog

Editor’s Note: To learn more about our Red Letter Campaign click here; More details on our first-ever Red Letter Day can be found here)

Let Environment Canada’s Scientists Speak!

Red Letter Day Sample letters

Remember to include your name and mailing address.

If your first name begins with the Letters A-G, please send a letter to your hometown newspaper, or one of the national newspapers.

British Columbia newspapers
Alberta newspapers
Saskatchewan newspapers
Manitoba newspapers
Ontario newspapers
Québec newspapers
New Brunswick newspapers
Nova Scotia newspapers
Prince Edward Island newspapers
Newfoundland newspapers
Yukon newspapers
Territorial newspapers

National newspapers

Sample Letter to the Editor (Newspapers)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper doesn’t want Canadians to know that we’ve become an international pariah and deemed the worst of the world’s climate-change villains. In fact, Canada was recently labeled the world’s Colossal Fossil by more than 450 NGOs because our obstructionist policies are preventing any international progress to slow global warming. And that’s why Conservative government policy prevents Environment Canada scientists from telling us the truth about climate change, and Canada’s sorry international record.

For proof that this policy is on-going, you need look no futher than the most recent climate change summit in Poznan, Poland. Senior Environment Canada scientist Don MacIver was told, while en route to the airport, that his presence at the international climate summit was not required. As chair, he was also scheduled to speak that the World Meteorological Organization’s Climate Conference-3 — his flight was paid for by the WMO — but Environment Minister Jim Prentice refused permission for him to attend. MacIver was forced to resign his position as WMO CC-3 chair.

It’s scandalous and embarrassing that our scientists have best been muzzled; this is a story that sounds more appropriate to the Sovet Union of the 1960s, not Canada in 2009.

We deserve to know the truth about climate change. Mr. Harper and Mr. Prentice: it’s time to remove the muzzles from Environment Canada’s experts!

If your first name begins with the Letters H-O, please write the opposition environment critics.

Mr. David McGuinty
Liberal Environment Critic
House of Commons Room 351, West Block
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
McGuinty.D@parl.gc.ca

Ms. Linda Duncan
NDP Environment Critic
MP Edmonton-Strathcona
House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Duncan.L@parl.gc.ca

Mr. Bernard Bigras
BQ Environment Critic
1453, rue Beaubien Est Bureau 208
Montréal, Québec H2G 3C6
bigrab1@parl.gc.ca

Mr. Peter Graham
Green Party Environment Critic
204-396 Cooper St. Ottawa, ON K2P 2H7
peter.graham@greenparty.ca

I’m discouraged by Canada’s slow, dishonorable slide on the international stage because of our country’s obstructionist climate policies. I’m ashamed that we’ve been named 2008′s Colossal Fossil as the world’s worst climate change villain by more than 400 NGOs in Poznan, and that the Climate Action Network places Canada in the same league as Saudi Arabia.

But it’s not only environmental groups who are condemning Canada. In article entitled “Canada takes its Lumps at Poznan,” Embassy magazine offered this analysis of Canada’s role: “At the most recent round of international climate change negotiations, Canada once again emerged as a leading “spoiler,” attracting scorn and condemnation from both environmentalists and foreign delegations alike.”

The situation is desperate. Climate scientists around the world are convening an emergency session in Copenhagen in March because climate change is occurring faster and harder than even the most dire predictions from three years ago. When is Canada going get the message to start to transition to a low-carbon economy?
Part of the problem is that Environment Canada’s climate experts are no longer allowed to speak to the media without the permission of the Environment Minister’s office. In fact. Don MacIver had to resign his chairmanship from the World Meteorological Organization’s Climate Conference-3 because Jim Prentice would not allow him to attend the Poznan climate summit.

In recent weeks, Mr. Prentice has been quoted repeatedly for suggesting that Canada now has an climate ally in Washington in President Obama. Frankly, his words sound hollow. The Conservative stimulus package included very little money for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. It seems to be designed to lock us into a fossil-fuel economy for another generation.

As shadow environmental critics for the opposition parties, I’m asking you to press the environment minister to take our country’s environmental responsibilities seriously. Ask him to present a show of good faith by taking the muzzles off Environment Canada’s climate scientists. Ask him to convene a news conference so the scientists can speak directly to Canadians, and explain why we need to make climate change the government’s #1 priority.

If your first name begins with the Letters P-Z, please write Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff and Conservative Environment Minister Jim Prentice:

Mr. Michael Ignatieff
Room 435-S, Centre Block
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Ignatieff.M@parl.gc.ca

Honorable Jim Prentice
Office of the Environment,
10 Wellington Street, 28th flr,
Gatineau, Québec
K1A 0H3
Prentice.J@parl.gc.ca

I’m discouraged by Canada’s slow, dishonorable slide on the international stage because of our country’s obstructionist climate policies. I’m ashamed that we’ve been named 2008′s Colossal Fossil as the world’s worst climate change villain by more than 400 NGOs in Poznan, and that the Climate Action Network places Canada in the same league as Saudi Arabia.

But it’s not only environmental groups who are condemning Canada. In article entitled “Canada takes its Lumps at Poznan,” Embassy magazine offered this analysis of Canada’s role: “At the most recent round of international climate change negotiations, Canada once again emerged as a leading “spoiler,” attracting scorn and condemnation from both environmentalists and foreign delegations alike.”

The situation is desperate. Climate scientists around the world are convening an emergency session in Copenhagen in March because climate change is occurring faster and harder than even the most dire predictions from three years ago.

When is Canada going get the message to start to transition to a low-carbon economy? Part of the problem would seem to be that Environment Canada scientists are no longer allowed to speak to the media without your office’s permission. In fact. Don MacIver had to resign his chairmanship from the World Meteorological Organization’s Climate Conference-3 because your office would not allow him to attend the Poznan climate summit.

In recent weeks, you’ve repeatedly suggested that Canada now has an climate ally in Washington in President Obama, but frankly, your words ring hollow. The Conservative stimulus package included very little money for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. It seems to be designed to lock us into a fossil-fuel economy for another generation.

If your government really does plan to take its environmental responsibilities seriously, then I would ask you for a show of good faith. Take the muzzles off Environment Canada’s climate scientists and convene a news conference so they can speak directly to Canadians, and explain why we need to make climate change the government’s #1 priority.