I will not be in Owen Sound during this election, but I wish I could be there to cast my ballot. Raised in a Tory blue environment, I have worn shirts of orange, waved flags of red, and given money to the Greens. My political values are confused; I am a moderately conservative capitalist, green at heart, and a social-leaning liberal but if we were in town at the moment, our lawn would be festooned with liberal signs from end to end.
The Trudeau government has shown true leadership in our current global mess of wicked problems. Not the kind of leadership that is bull-headed and righteous, but the type that is willing to be uncertain, to negotiate, to deliberate, to listen to opposing viewpoints, and to compromise. It would be an honour to have Michael Den Tandt represent us. Beyond his obvious intelligence and expertise, his best quality is the most essential quality that leaders across the globe require in this difficult political landscape - his inquisitive nature. He is interested in learning, asking questions, and gaining even more wisdom.
I am wary of leaders who lack curiosity and express fixed positions. Righteousness and inflexibility in political arenas set off alarm bells. That is why I am unhappy with the Green rhetoric in our riding. How is it that the citizens of Grey and Bruce are accused of inaction when it comes to climate change? Leigh Grigg suggests that casting a Green vote will allow you to “look youth in the eye & be able to say you did something about climate” (Owen Sound Hub, October 8 2019). We have already done plenty. With our existing production of wind energy and one of the largest nuclear plants on the planet, green leaders should be aware that we have done far more than our national and global share on the energy transition front.
In fact Grey Bruce citizens have done far more per capita than those of Denmark, where Ralph and I are working now. Coal is still burning away at many power stations as a significant component of energy production (planned phase out in 2030), but Danes would have no problem looking youth in the eye and saying they are doing something about climate. The globe looks up to Denmark for progressive environmental and social platforms. Their goals are achievable, but compromised.
Back in 2009, bull-headed Ontario Liberal politicians thought to bolster green energy production in a hurry. Their disinterest in local wisdom and inflexibility resulted in one of the most damaging pieces of legislation ever to land on our doorstep: the Green Energy Act. The rural residents of Grey and Bruce have borne a substantial negative impact from that ill-advised approach to “Green” policy. The backlash from the voters has now handed the reigns to far right provincial conservatives, effectively stopping any progress on environmental issues.
The realistic yet achievable social and environmental goals outlined in today’s federal Liberal platform will be tossed out the window if the moderate conservative vote goes to the far right instead of back to the middle.
Ontario does not burn coal, but we produce low-carbon nuclear energy. Around the globe people are not aligned on this complex topic. Some leading environmental thinkers (like Steward Brand and Jared Diamond) state that nuclear power is the only realistic way to transition to a low-carbon future while others hope that renewable sources will be adequate. Whatever your viewpoint, the local Green movement does not seem to see our clean energy output as a contribution we can already be proud of. One of the world’s largest and safest nuclear stations is in our backyard. If there is risk (and I truly hope there is NOT because my son and daughter-in-law work there now) it is borne by our workers and our landscape.
The Liberal platform is the most likely to succeed in addressing complex local, national and global problems because it acknowledges the necessity of deliberation, research, flexibility and compromise. Be wary of righteous leaders - in this political climate, absolute certainty is as alarming as climate change.
Christy Hempel
Owen Sound.
Also: Vejle, Denmark.
