From an editorial published in The Toronto Star.
When Prime Minister Stephen Harper meets with President Barack Obama in Washington this week to discuss clean energy and climate, I hope the Canadian public and media keep him honest. Close attention should be paid to any special treatment Harper attempts to gain for Canada’s tar sands, your country’s fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions, and a problematic industry linked to serious environmental degradation and human health issues. If he’s still lobbying for “intensity targets,” or pitting one part of the country against the other under a hard cap, you’ll know he’s stalling.
When it comes to fighting climate change, the will of Canadians is clear. The world is waiting to hear your voice and to see your country take action. You just need a government that’s willing to actually represent you, free of distortion, beholden to no other special interest besides the best interest of Canadians.
That’s true leadership, and in the climate era, it’s a prerequisite for survival.