Options politiques

There is nothing like a little distance from Canada to offer a fresh perspective on what is going on back home. While #elbowgate and #prayforsophie were trending, I was one of a dozen Canadians participating in the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt’s 5th World Responsible Leaders Forum in Munich. It was not surprising that top of mind amongst the public sector, corporate, and civil society participants gathered at the Forum was the topic of innovation.

On June 23rd, Britain will vote in a national referendum on whether we want to remain part of the European Union, or leave it. As the debate heats up, themes have emerged – immigration, sovereignty, the economy, which box will lead us quickest to apocalypse/World War Three. But one theme stands out to me. And that theme is men. The debate, the campaigns, the voices and the issues have all been overwhelmingly dominated by men.

Recently, 90 scientists and climate experts sent an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressing their concerns about the potential climate impacts of the Pacific NorthWest LNG project. In response, B.C. minister of environment Mary Polak told a newspaper that the total carbon pollution from the liquefied natural gas project would be lower than estimated by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency because of the province’s forthcoming climate plan — much lower, in fact.