Presto helps spawn new enviro group

[styky]

I must get busy ordering buttons that say I got suckered and send the first one to Preston Manning.



Presto helps spawn new enviro group

Preston Manning has inspired creation of a new environmental group that hopes to help elevate environmental issues on the provincial stage.

Jeff Krekoski said the Alberta Stewardship Coalition hopes to rally a broad cross-section of Albertans to take action on environmental concerns.

"We want to make sure these issues are discussed meaningfully in the public," he said.

Manning spoke on a panel at the coalition's first public event last night in Calgary along with Environment Minister Rob Renner, Liberal environment critic Dr. David Swann and others.

"There's no doubt that the environment is front and centre," said Renner. "If I can get a chance to talk with a group of young people interested in this timely subject, then I am more than happy to do so."

The coalition is planning to hold a second event in Edmonton in the near future.

ED NAMES CALGARY AIDE

Ed Stelmach has named his new director for the Southern Alberta Premier's Office in Calgary.

Ken Faulkner, a former Alberta government communications director and ministerial executive assistant, was named to the post yesterday.

Faulkner, of Calgary, heads the Alberta practice for the PR firm Global Public Affairs.

He was executive assistant to Alberta Environment Minister Lorne Taylor from 2001 to 2004.

"He's a quality individual with the depth of experience needed in this position and I'm looking forward to working with him on issues that are of particular importance to Calgary and southern Alberta," Stelmach said.

LOBBY COSTS CORRECTED

The startup costs for the province's new lobbyist registry have been estimated at $451,000 for the first year.

The costs are estimated at $275,000 next year and $283,000 the following year.

A story in yesterday's edition reported an erroneous figure.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta ... 1-sun.html

[tomtga1]

what makes you say that?

[styky]

what makes you say that?

If I wanted a Liberal policy on the environment that was pro kyoto I would have voted Liberal.

[Connie Fournier]

what makes you say that?

You really don't want to get us started on Preston Manning!

[littleharbour]

The wine that Manning's been drinking must be addling his brain. It's always a bad thing when a life long teetotaler starts to sip from the vine late in life.

[tomtga1]

really? drinking, and not wanting to get started? what could there be to say about him? I was convinced that there was a conservative way to handle environmental issues. What do you think?

[bulldog905]

Sorry, Presto, who the f--k cares?

There are already 4 political parties in the HOC who sell the same snake oil.

If you really want to help the enviro-wackos, with your track history, you should come out against them.

[FriedmanForever]

Manning has long been an advocate of market-based environmental solutions (I do think the environment is a property rights issue at its core) - I doubt he has ditched his plaid shirts for a poncho.

[Regnans-in-excelsis]

Since when has preserving wetlands for waterfowl, protecting the water supply of trout streams, planting habitat for grouse and pheasants or properly managing the bear population become a left-wing policy, or for that part the primary pre-occupation of our mainstream political parties. There's nothing inherently left wing about wanting the air that my children breath twenty years down the road to be as clean as when I was a child, or for them to still have access to large tracts of Crown Land and waters where they could fish, hunt or camp.

There has been a strong history of advocacy and research for market-based environemental policy, that offers alternative solutions to addressing environmental issues without all of the inefficiencies and costs to the economy inherent in many left-wing approaches. There is no lack of areas here for further research or policy advocacy.

One of my bigger pet peeves is with the fact that legitimate environmental issues have been sidelined or mismanaged by the mainstream political left who are more interested using the trendiness of the environment or the symbolism of Kyoto to gain a very dubious legitimacy for themselves.

Cheers,

Frank

[tomtga1]

yes. this man, Frank, is exactly right... in more ways than one.

the stubborn, arguably blind arrogance associated with anti-environmental conservative views is downright irresponsible. It leaves the door wide open for interests advocating for a higher degree of state control to gain, in the public sphere, the position of primary advocate for one of the most pressing issues of our time, losing their own credibility as responsible power-holders in the process.

it is my view that the environmental issues we face are largely a matter of mankind coming to grips with his unprecedented, modern ability to affect, impact, and manage his surroundings.

those who keep their head in the sand advocating further irresponsible ecological destruction when the solutions are within our grasp need to come out of the days of the horse and buggy and realize that these attitudes of ecological destruction; rather than stewardship; are a product of the days when western man struggled out of the cold-leaky hut into the modern era.

we now have the power to to impact our natural world on an unprecedented scale; it is our responsibility to do this wisely and in a way that preserves the most individual freedom as possible.

[bulldog905]

Enviromentalism is socialism by the installment plan.

Only fanatics and swindlers promote it.

Only fools falls for it.

Manning is half fool, half you know what.