Protesters ask Ambrose for green industry

A group of students and teachers from the University of Alberta took a literal stand against climate degradation on Wednesday outside the office of Conservative Member of Parliament Rona Ambrose.

The event coincided with a similar occurrence at the office of Jim Prentice, Federal Minister of Environment, although it was unaffiliated with the one at Prentice's office, or any other environmental movements.

“We’re part of a larger movement of unaffiliated Canadians around the country that are standing up and demanding climate justice,” said protester and U of A linguistics graduate Keely Kidner.

The group camped out at Ambrose’s office to protest what they are calling Canada’s current “inaction on climate change.” They hope that in light of the protest, Ambrose — who is also the Federal Minister of Labour — will look to investment in environmentally friendly industries.

“We’re asking her to be a leader in the global transition to a green economy and start investing in green jobs for Canada. Already, we’re behind,” she said, adding a fear that Canada would soon begin lagging precipitously behind global standards for developed countries.

The protest was also an appeal to Ambrose to push the government for stricter protocols at the upcoming U.N. Copenhagen Climate Change Summit 2009, which will set international environmental standards.

“Canada has been called a roadblock to Copenhagen. We were voted the worst obstructors of climate change action in Poland, and recent [Vancouver-based Hoggan & Associates] survey show that 75 per cent of Canadians are embarrassed by this country’s lack of climate change action,” Kidner elaborated.

Kidner pointed out that without the leadership of the Canadian government, those who contribute the least to climate change, such as indigenous communities, northern communities, developing nations, island states, and future generations, would all be left high and — considering the effects of melting ice caps — not so dry.

“That’s a pretty clear message to the government. The United Nations climate group has said that we need to stabilize emissions by 2015,” she said.

“Minister of Environment Jim Prentice has recently said that Canada needs 40 years to stabilize emissions. In 30 years, I’m going to be 67. It’s directly affecting my life, and the life of my children as well."

As of press time, Rona Ambrose could not be reached for comment.