For anyone who thought that environmentalists were just scaremongering about what might happen if the Conservatives gained a majority - well, it might be time to reconsider that viewpoint.
Scott Vaughan, federal commissioner of the environment and sustainable development, has basically called out Stephen Harper's government for unsupported statements on how it will meet Harper's own climate change goals. Vaughan tabled an audit outlining his conclusions last week.
In a nutshell, Vaughan says that the Conservatives are pretty much blowing smoke when it comes to plans on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This should come as no surprise to anyone following the government as it trundles along gutting environmental protections day by day. Canada dropped out of Kyoto, saying it would come up with regulations to meet lower emission standards. As Vaughan points out in his report, given the rate of greenhouse gas emissions in the nation, "it is unlikely that enough time is left to develop and establish greenhouse gas emission regulations that together will contribute sufficient greenhouse gas reductions."
And for those who say this is the same-old, same-old politics - remember this is not the NDP's Thomas Mulcair or Green party's Elizabeth May making these charges - it's the Office of the Auditor General.
And now, this week, Harper has gone ahead with radical changes to the Fisheries Act, among them removing the term "habitat," leaving the fish completely vulnerable to development.
"Basically, they've gutted the habitat section of the Fisheries Act. If you don't protect the habitat, you don't have fish," said Otto Langer, a former government biologist.
Mind you, it may be a moot point. After all, if Harper has sold out the environment and abandoned (if he was ever truly serious) greenhouse gas reduction targets, fish habitat may be replaced by lizard habitat - or we may all end up to our necks in watery fish habitat.
