30 Fairmont Park Lane S
Lethbridge, AB
T1K 7H7
Phone: (403) 328-1804
Monday, December 18, 2006
The Editor
The Lethbridge Herald
P.O. Box 670
Lethbridge, AB, T1J 3Z7
Dear Editor,
I see Dr. Suzuki is suggesting some government initiatives to manage environmental issues. (“Government has to change its ways”, 06/1217, A6)
Specifically he states; “A number of steps could be taken to further this end, from creating a Cabinet Committee on sustainable development, to appointing a special advisor to monitor Canada’s progress, to establishing a Sustainable Development Advisory Council comprised of the environment minister and representatives from the provinces, territories, First Nations, NGOs, business and labour.”
Dr. Suzuki seems unfamiliar with government bodies already in place. There is a parliamentary committee called the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development which covers the first of his recommendations. The Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development is a special advisor within the Office of the Auditor General. She just issued a report on Canada’s progress. The National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy serves as an advisory council to the Environment Minister. Minister Ambrose has just sought their advice on the Clean Air Act and also nominated five new members in November and December.
It seems Dr. Suzuki’s suggestions for new government spending are totally superfluous. We have had these taxpayer funded initiatives, which essentially pre-empt his latest advice, in place for years. With that kind of duplicative counsel we can hope governments pay less attention to him in the future. That would be a good thing.
Yours truly,
Duane Pendergast