Re: “NDP headed to permanent third place,” and “Federal NDP takes a huge leap off bridge,” columns, April 12.
Following my reading of the comments by Les Leyne and Lawrie McFarlane, I had to check to see if the sky had fallen. I am thankful that had not happened.
The Leap Manifesto is not a New Democratic Party policy resolution, it is a document that is worthy of discussion by the party and public with a view to developing a policy roadmap. Over time, it will change the way we approach the extraction and use of our natural resources in a manner that also incorporates the needs of the environment, the economy, indigenous rights and the social and economic needs of all Canadians.
Why is it that there is such a fear among our political parties to have meaningful public debate on the issue of how we get to “yes” in dealing with the issue of climate change? It seems that attaining our carbon targets, both provincial and federal, will require a slowing of oil extraction over time and in the end significant substitution of renewables for energy production.
We have the ability as a society to develop pragmatic approaches to solve what, in the short term, appears to be undoable, but we do have to start serious discussion as to how we plan to get there.
I am an 80-year-old “member of the left” who believes that the market, given clear signals with appropriate regulations from government, will be able to make this transition. The time to begin the discussion is now; knowledge, not fear, should guide us in determining the direction we give our politicians.
Roald Anderson
Victoria
