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David Sweet finally says something in Ancaster Dundas Flamborough Westdale

Author: Jim Mackey (Liberal)

7 Oct

News Flash!

Conservative incumbent David Sweet representing the Hamilton area riding of Ancaster Dundas Flamborough Westdale says that “Stephen Harper is not the bad guy some make him out to be”.Â I could follow that by saying something like “details at 11″…. but there aren’t many details…again.

True to form for this riding and in many other currently conservative enclaves, the incumbent said little of substance during an all candidates forum recently taped for the local cable TV outlet.Â When pressed about his government’s action on climate change he did make the relatively shocking statement that (presumably under Mr. Harper’s leadership) “Canada is working toward a global consensus on climate change”.

These comments come in the last week of an election campaign, for the duration of which the local conservative candidate has added to his record of relative silence and inactivity in his riding.Â Could this be because conservative members (who according to Sweet, Mr. Harper is “prepared to hear from at open mikes” during caucus meetings) seem to be on a short leash in public or is it because their platform was only released this week?

Credit to Green Party Candidate Peter Ormond for raising the question of muzzling of conservative MPs by party leadership when it comes to Climate Change and Global Warming.Â The entire country has been muzzled it seems, not just conservative MPs.

For example Andrew Weaver a world renowned Canadian Climate Scientist has stated that there has been a “war against science” carried out by the the Harper Conservatives.Â You may recall that Weaver a member of the Nobel winning IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) was snubbed by Prime Minister Harper who refused to attend a Parliament Hill event held earlier this year to recognize the IPCC’s Nobel prize.Â Weaver is not alone.Â The recently produced Health Canada report on the effects of Climate Change has been withheld and the public engagement process meant to go along with it cancelled by the Harper govenrment.

With NDP candidate Gordon Guyatt away in Europe at a medical conference, it seems that the riding is shifting into the widely endorsed hands of Liberal Arlene MacFarlane VanderBeek.Â The broad spectrum of support for her comes from within the riding as well from outside where climate change experts and concerned Canadians agree that the Liberal platform continues to hold out the greatest opportunity at the intersection of the environment and the economy.

Filed under: All Candidates Meetings, Carbon Tax, Environment, Hamilton / Niagara, Jim Mackey (Liberal), Liberal, Local Campaigns

2 Responses for "David Sweet finally says something in Ancaster Dundas Flamborough Westdale"

mike blackborow October 9th, 2008 at 4:09 pm 1
I was at the ADFW debate on Saturday October the 4th.
I agree that David Sweet said very little. In fact I scoffed when David Sweet stated that he was not muzzled and that he had responded to all questions that were asked of him.

From my position David Sweet did not answer any questions directly. He took every opportunity to speak from his talking points that were probably prepared by SteveO.

In my opinion Peter Ormond was the shinning star at this debate however it seems to me that voting for him will split the vote on the left and then ensure the re-election of Mr. Sweet.
Juanita Mldonado October 10th, 2008 at 1:43 am 2
The liberal caucus have been elected to serve in Ottawa and under Mr. Dion’s clock have watched silently-Walking out of the House of Commons when it was time to vote on important issues that matter to me and you. Arlene is a good candidate but voters can’t count on the Liberals to get the job done. I encourage you to look at the track record of all of the NDP caucus. Environment Critic Nathan Cullen has held John Baird, Environment Minister, to task on climate change. Newly elected MP Thomas Mulcair is brilliant as our deputy leader and finance critic and Jack steams ahead with important achievements like helping Harper write the Aboriginal apology.
Its important to elect effective opposition.
Elect Gordon Guyatt-he’s brilliant and will go to Ottawa to work tirelessly for you!

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