2. In your opinion, what is the most important environmental issue of ...

2. In your opinion, what is the most important environmental issue of national orglobal significance? If elected, how do you plan to address this issue?Saul AndersenIndependentThe most important globally significant environmental issue we face is the toxification ofthe Planet's ecosystems. If elected, I would push for more sustainable forms ofeconomic and industrial development. This should include the development of industrialhemp products, and other green economic solutions which are valuable in the longterm.Ariel LadeGreen Party of CanadaGlobal warming. Parliament needs Greens to ensure Kyoto Accord implementation. TheLiberals permitted a 24% increase in greenhouse gas emissions over 1990 levels,granting $2 in oil and gas subsidies for every $1 spent addressing Kyoto. I will fight toend pollution by corporate welfare and urge shifting taxes on fossil fuels to earlier in theproduction cycle, encouraging producer competition to lower operating costs whilereducing emissions. Emission reduction targets for large industrial emitters must besubstantially increased, with targets based on actual emissions and data publiclyavailable. The GPC will enforce a mandatory 25% better fuel efficiency for theautomobile industry and increase standards over 5 years. I will advocate massive reinvestmentin Canada’s mass transit and restoration of VIA rail service to all majorregional cities. I will also urge amending trade agreements to better protect Canada'snatural resources and foster fair trade of clean energy technologies.Denise SavoieNew Democratic PartyI believe that climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing the globalcommunity. The NDP has developed a strong plan to address the causes of globalwarming, and if elected as you MP I will work with Jack Layton and the NDP caucus toensure that it is put into action.The NDP proposes the Clean Air Act to undo the damage caused by Liberal neglectand reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 25% below what they were in 1990 by 2020.Our Polluter Pay and Toxic Pollution Reduction Act will overhaul the CanadianEnvironmental Protection Act to introduce the polluter pays concept and to replace thecurrent emphasis on voluntary action with mandatory pollution prevention measures.Our platform also establishes a national energy retrofit program for residential,commercial, industrial and government buildings. In this proven job creation program,the government would contribute money up front, which would be repaid from energysavings in the future.

David MulroneyLiberal Party of CanadaThe most important national environmental issue to me is global warming. Severalcountries are making great progress on their goals and the International Panel onClimate Change has set out methodologies and measuring and reporting standards. Iwould simply look at what we have done and at what others have done that is workingand use what seems workable in Canada. Although we have committed substantialmonies to the Global warming issue and to research, we have not moved quicklyenough. There is sufficient research, guidance documentation and protocols onprocedure to implement many helpful measures immediately. Regrettably, our failure topursue this agenda aggressively means we have moved further in the wrong direction.So has the planet, though many countries are doing well. We are seeing increasingfrequencies of extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods and hurricanes. Weare already seeing the devastation to our forests because we lack cold weather to killinsect infestations and because rainfall patterns are changing more quickly thanvegetation can adapt. I am not an expert on climate change, but have spoken to DavidAnderson about this at length and he believes that with firm efforts and resolve we canstill reach our emissions targets.We did not receive submissions from the following candidates:Robin BairdConservative Party of CanadaFred MallachMarijuana PartyBruce BurnettWestern Block Party