[All] Meeting Summery with Mr. Braid re: Climate Change

[Louisette Lanteigne]

Meeting with Mr. Peter Braid, November 10th 2009 with JustEarth’s Kimia Eslah, Louisette Lanteigne and Don Dietrich. In Waterloo Ontario.
 
Mr. Braid has arrived late coming back from a Remembrance Day event at a local Long Term Residence, but the meeting began approximately 2:15 and lasted approximately 40 minutes. 
 
As requested, Louisette Lanteigne received a hard copy report from Mr. Braid regarding his last climate change discussions in the UK to be relayed to the group at a later date. 
 
A list of Pre-made questions had been submitted for Mr. Braid with the first topic focusing on the need to support green energy industries. Locally we observed 450 jobs at Arise Technologies go to Germany because this company lacked fiscal support from Canada. We addressed the matter with Mr. Braid.
 
Mr. Braid stated that a deal is being made with a Solar Energy company in China that will bring solar manufacturing jobs to Kitchener. This proposal is currently in the works.
 
Also, the provincial government has initiated a feed in tariff system for folks wanting to introduce solar power onto the grid with a return of 80 cents per KW hour for up to two years. 
 
The provincial Green Energy Act is making progress and Eco Energy programs can reduce the cost of green upgrades for homeowners. (I mentioned the home audits can be out of the range of affordability for home owners.)
 
Kimia asked, “There’s a lot of emphasis on provincial solutions but your jurisdiction is Federal. What federal initiatives are being done and how much is being invested towards green energy systems?”
 
Mr. Braid stated, “We have the Federal Development Ontario programs to support job growth with a starting fund of $200,000,000 which will be spread out over a 5 year period. $60 million has been used already.”
 
The Green Energy Fund is also going to power suppliers to help with energy infrastructure. 
 
We’re planning a Cap and Trade with America that will help us to convert to alternative energy. The current target set by the government is 20% by 2020. (from 2006 levels.) We recognize that Canada needs to do its share. 
 
We have 73% efficiency with Hydro that will be bumped up to 90% energy efficiency. 
 
The North American Agreement will help set the standards to equalize products. For example, currently Canadian tail pipe emissions are higher than US standards and that will be raised to our levels. 
 
Kimia asked, what about Copenhagen. Are we going to ratify it?
 
Mr. Braid stated, “Canada’s position is influenced by the North American Agreement. The US is not going to be more stringent than it is now. 
 
Kimia stated, “When Bill C-311 was delayed, it was because Canada was waiting for what China felt on the issue. Currently China’s environmental standards are much lower than Canada’s and the US. Is there a chance our current standards can slide back?
 
Mr. Braid said, the US is higher on some standards, Canada is higher on some. The North American Agreement should get us on the same levels. We’re economically linked. 
 
Lulu stated, “You said the US is not going to be more stringent that is now, so what hope is there to improve their system if they are fixed in their ways?”
 
Mr. Braid corrected himself and stated that “The US is not going to be less stringent than it is now.”
 
Kimia stated, “We need to listen to the Canadian people. We’re a sovereign nation. Why link us to China and the US when we know they already have some of the worst environmental records?
 
Don stated, “Yes, why don’t we align ourselves with nations like Denmark or Germany. They are nations that can bring us up in standards. 
 
Lulu stated, “Why not at least link with Australia in regards to water conservation since our water issues are so much alike.”
 
Mr. Braid said, “We are proceeding with the Americans because our economies are linked and our nations are bound together economically. We can’t negate that.”
 
Don pulled out a photo of his child from his pocket, gently placed it in a frame and held it to show Mr. Braid and stated, “This is my grandson. He’s the reason I’m here today.  Do you have Children Mr. Braid?”
 
“Yes” replied Mr. Braid.
 
“Do you realize how much our actions will impact their world? The air they breathe? We’re adding poison to their air at levels that will continue to increase if we don’t take meaningful action to stop it.  Their survival is literally in our hands. It’s about their world and what we are doing to it today.” Don put the photo down and stated, “When I watch our leaders, it’s like watching a shell game between the US, Canada and China where each is vying for position not revealing to anyone what they have and the shells keep moving around. It’s like watching school yard bullies fighting amongst themselves and all the while the school is burning and nobody notices. 
 
Kimia stated, “We can’t ignore the reality. What we’re doing is not working.  Everyone is waiting for everyone else to take leadership and nobody is moving first and nothing is happening. We want Canada to be a leader to commit to meaningful changes and act on it.”
 
Lulu stated. “Ok, time to get the gloves off and get real. Does your party support Harper?”
 
Mr. Braid stated, “Yes. He was elected, wasn’t he?”


Lulu replied, “Yes, well that doesn’t mean much. Bush was elected too. George Bush without consulting with the US government decided independently, to not ratify Kyoto. When Harper was elected, he totally disregarded Kyoto obligations even though it was fully ratified by Canada. He ignored a key international agreement that was strongly supported by the Canadian people and now he’s getting sued for this from Environmental Defense because the man broke the law. This isn’t leadership Mr. Braid, this is dictatorship.” Again Lulu asked, “Does your party support Harper as leader?”
 
Mr. Braid broke away his eye contact, just looked down on his desk with eye focus going towards the right and did not answer.  Lulu asked again, “Does the Tory party support Mr. Harper as their leader?” He continued to gaze down and simply stated, “Next question please.”
Lulu asked a little louder, a little firmer, “Does the Tory Party support this man Harper as their leader?” 
 
In a sudden outburst Mr. Braid stated, “I can’t answer that!” then eyes switched to the left, he continued softer and regained composure, “Next question…please.”
 
Lulu gave it a moment as Mr. Braid readjusted himself in his seat and stated, “As I drove to the meeting today I heard on CBC radio the government is predicting the GDP index is going to be reduced from 2.4% to 1.6%.  Earlier a Pembina Institute report was released, showing how Canada can meet and possibly surpass its Kyoto targets to create a GDP average of 2.1% but Financial Minister stated it wasn’t worth cutting growth by 3%. In light of the revised numbers, I believe we should be shifting our support towards the Pembina solution. 
 
Lulu stated, “In terms of carbon capturing, our government is spending hundreds of millions to develop technologies that experts believe won’t even work for Tar Sands projects.  Why do Canadian taxpayers have to foot the bill to subsidize the studies of private industries? The fiscal burden of these studies should be placed on big oil if they want to stay in business, not taxpayers. It’s a private industry. 
 
Lulu continued: Canadians are currently dying of smog. My daughter and I have asthma, and my husband has high blood pressure, diseases all linked by smog. Each year in Waterloo Region, 200 people a year die of smog related illnesses according to the Ontario Medical Association. Have you any idea how it feels to know this information and then have to sit and watch Steven Harper at Tim Horton’s while Climate Change talks are taking place at the UN? This in my view is disrespectful, ignorant and morally irresponsible. While millions of people are taking personal efforts to reduce carbon emissions, while thousands of Canadians are dying each year of smog and heart disease,  our leader is in Tim Hortons.  Will he even be in Copenhagen? We need our Prime Minister in Copenhagen. He absolutely must be there. There is no excuse for his absence. We need him there. 
 
Lulu continues: As a consumer I’ve spent thousands on an R-2000 home, I’ve switched light bulbs, purchase fuel efficient products, insulated my attic like thousands of other Canadians yet all our combined efforts to reduce emissions are overwhelmed by the pollution generated by the tar sands. Millions of Canadians are trying to cut carbon emissions, billions have been spent in related carbon reducing programs yet  from 1991 to 2006 our emissions have increased 25% and we failed to meet our targets.  We are the second highest per capita polluters for carbon in the world and no matter how much we try; the Canadian public cannot cut levels down enough to meet our climate change objectives if the tar sands negate the effort. 
 
Mr. Braid stated, “We can’t stop trying to cut emissions.”
 
Lulu stated, “I understand that, otherwise it would have increased our output even more.”
 
Mr Braid states, “Industries have to survive.”
 
Lulu stated, “Yes, but people have to survive too. Free market economy was working beautifully when the auto manufacturers collapsed. They fell because people didn’t like their gas guzzling products. These companies failed to have regard for the public’s desires and they paid the price for it. Instead of allowing natural market selection take place, our government used our Canadian Taxpayers dollars to bail them out in an artificial solution.” 
 
Mr. Braid stated, “But auto manufacturing needs to survive because they support jobs.”
 
Lulu said, “It would have survived if they did good business and listen to what consumers wanted. Instead they listed to big oil. At this point, Canadian consumers are bailing out companies whose products they don’t want. We have subsidies for them, we have subsidies for big oil and our current government has forced the Canadian Taxpayers to support the companies that are making us physically ill with smog, who are circumventing all of our efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Meanwhile our government is spending billions more to tell us, the taxpayers, to cut smog. It’s hypocrisy. We have to pay the penance for their sins and we cannot physically compensate enough to do it. This is unacceptable.”
 
Lulu continued, “It’s time to cut the umbilical cord with oil and auto industries. Treat them like the private industries they area. They must be given the choice to adapt or fail like any other business. Government exists to support the people of our nation. It must put our survival and welfare before corporate interests and stop making taxpayers compensate for the companies making us ill when they are the ones increasing our health care costs and literally killing us. Stop subsidizing the companies circumventing the carbon cutting efforts otherwise the millions invested towards carbon cutting programs will fail to achieve targets. Our efforts will continue to be wasted should the tar sands continue at this pace.
 
Lulu continued, “We’re not asking for the total abolishment of oil. We’re asking to control it. Harper’s riding was in the tar sands before he took power. This growth has gone way out of control. Carbon Capturing options to date are non-existent so we must at least make the effort to reduce the pace of oil production if we are to make a sincere attempt to meet targets. 
 
Peter Braid stated. “Yes. Downsize the pace.”
 
Lulu stated, “Brian Mulroney as a Conservative leader did wonderful things for our environment, particularly in regards to acid rain. Don’t let this current leader overshadow the good that has been done by the Tory party.  Tories have done good things in the past and they can do good things in the future but not with this man as a leader.”
 
Lulu leaned in, “We are all in a difficult position, but your eyes have told me what your mouth could not say, and it reveals a good heart. From where you are in government and in the Tory Party, it is my hope you will do the right thing. Do good work from your end, and we will do what we can from here.”
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