'protecting nature election questions'

'During this year’s election, we cannot afford to allow nature and the environment to be ignored.

It’s time to tell your local candidates where you stand.

To help you become a more informed voter, and to send a message to all political parties that protecting nature is important to Canadians, we offer the following questions we think you should ask each candidate in your riding.

Find out where the candidates stand on the most pressing issues of our time.

Ask the Candidates:

1. Canada is not enforcing its own laws to protect wildlife, according to several Canadian and international investigations. What will you do to make sure Canada does a better job of enforcing our laws to protect wildlife like caribou, whales, and migratory birds?
2. I am concerned about plans to allow oil and gas drilling in national wildlife areas, marine protected areas and other places that should just protect nature, period. How will you make sure nature is really protected in all federal parks and protected areas? 
3. I am concerned that we are losing so much of Canada’s unique wild lands, waters, and oceans. What will you do to protect more lands, waters, and oceans for nature and future generations?
4. I worry about environmental disasters like oil spills and mining waste accidents. How will you do a better job of using federal regulations and environmental assessments to prevent environmental disasters?
5. I am angry that my hard-earned tax dollars are going to subsidize big oil and gas companies and our Canadian lakes are being handed over to mining companies to dump their waste. What will you do to end these dirty subsidies?
6. Everyone says that Canada is not doing its fair share to fight climate change. What is your party’s plan to really move Canada to a green economy powered by renewable energy?
7. Canada urgently needs an ambitious national plan to protect nature for wildlife, for us to enjoy, and for future generations. What will you do to show national leadership and give Canada an ambitious vision and a plan to protect nature for all?

We live in a time when the planet’s health is in peril, a time when strong leadership and decisive action are required to address the urgent threats of climate change, habitat loss, and species extinctions. As Canadians, we expect our government to protect nature. This election, ask the federal government to lead and coordinate action across Canada to conserve and protect what we hold dear.

Find your local candidates on the Elections Canada website and send an email asking them these questions.

Tell Canada’s leaders where you stand – vote for nature in 2011!'