OTTAWA –Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party (Saanich-Gulf Islands), issued the following statement on the first day of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP 12):
“Today, the world gathers in Ankara, Turkey for negotiations at the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification to discuss drought, water security, and desertification. Not only is Canada not present, this is one of the treaties from which Canada withdrew under Stephen Harper.
“For the second time in this election campaign, an important United Nations meeting is being ignored by the Harper government. They skipped out on the major UN summit on sustainable development, where over 160 heads of government met in New York to address the challenges of poverty and development.
“Despite being in an election, Trade Minister Ed Fast took time off to travel to Atlanta and negotiate the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). This was an aggressive round of negotiations making substantive commitments for Canada - well beyond the usual election role of a "care-taker" government.
“The Conservatives’ decision to snub another important multilateral negotiation, while choosing to focus on deals that enhance globalization and corporate power is revealing. In the next minority government, Green MPs will work collaboratively to ensure Canada plays a lead role in fighting climate change and work to repair our international reputation, starting by rejoining the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.”
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For additional information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Julian Morelli
Director of Communications
Green Party of Canada
cell: (613) 614 4916
office: (613) 562 4916 (224)
[email protected]
Or
Kirsten Strom
Executive Assistant to Director of Communications
t: 613.562.4916 (200)
Toll Free 1.866.868.3447
[email protected]