KAIROS is an ecumenical organization working for global justice in Canada and the world.
In early April, in anticipation of the upcoming federal election, I sent out questions developed by KAIROS to all four candidates for election in the B.C. Southern Interior. The questions were about climate change, indigenous rights and justice for migrant workers based on international convention and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
To date, the only reply I have received came from Shan Lavell, the Liberal Party candidate.
Ms. Lavell stated that as author and promoter of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Liberal Party will work to honour all immigrants, but did not give details. (Recent statistics released by Citizenship and Immigration Canada show that Canada has shifted its emphasis from permanent to temporary migration, allowing more migrants in on temporary work permits than as permanent residents.)
Ms. Lavell also stated, “I would like to bring together people who understand the Columbia River sockeye salmon and the landlocked kokanee in our riding. Aboriginal people would be there in creating the conditions for growth for salmon, for the natural environment and especially for people. I am fiercely determined to create the conditions for growth on every level, or every living being, including the earth.”
On climate change, she gave no details and did not directly respond to questions about the development of renewable energy or the issue of the significant subsidies given each year to fossil fuel industries.
At the all candidates forum in Nelson, I asked Stephen Hill, the candidate for the Conservative Party, about his views on decreasing greenhouse gas emissions in Canada. (Canada needs to reduce its emissions by about 50 percent to below 1990 levels by the year 2020, to prevent a disastrous increase of just two degrees in average global temperatures.) Mr. Hill replied that he believed the earth was now cooling, that a balance between the economy and the environment needed to be maintained, and that the Conservative Party was interested in green energy solutions.
I was only allowed to ask one candidate this question, so did not get a response from Mr. Atamanenko (NDP), Ms. Lavell or Mr. Hunt (Green Party).
Sandra Hartline, KAIROS Representative, Nelson