An Open Letter to Canada’s New Leader – Mr Mark Carney

Congratulations, Mr Carney!

We are thrilled to have you as Canada’s leader. I voted for you and I confess, last night, I prayed for you too. The alternative terrified me and has kept me awake for weeks.

My name is Puneeta and I am a writer. I’m also a builder of a safer, healthier, happier world for all. CBC/Radio-Canada News tells me you will be declaring your cabinet in < 2 weeks and I have a couple of immediate requests.

Please separate the Energy and Natural Resources portfolio! Nature is far more than just sources of energy, and as such should not be grouped together in a single portfolio. You said last night in your speech, “we need our strength to protect our lands.” You’re right, and we also need our strength and conviction to protect Canada’s nature.

Here’s why this is important:

In the Ministry’s current set up, Nature = Natural Resources. That is simply not accurate for our times. Nature is far more than simply ‘Natural Resources,’ it’s how we eat and heal, how we are allowed to breath and live.

Mr Carney, the evidence is clear, and scientists are agreeing with what generations of grandmas have known all along. Immediately, we must super-charge investment into regional power initiatives that rely on sun, wind and water. This is crucial for many reasons but also to protect employment in regions (I got you, AB) that are impacted by my next request. Immediately, we must reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Period. Immediately, we must protect old growth trees, clean water, oceans and soil. I am not exaggerating here — it’s crucial to protect what’s remaining of nature if we are to eat, heal, breathe, survive, perhaps even thrive as a society.

It is our collective responsibility to be stewards of what is remaining of Nature, and to remind ourselves when we protect Canada’s nature we also protect for the world. Mr Carney, please help!

Here are my recommendations:

• Separate the Energy and Natural Resources portfolios so that time, focus and $$$ can be separated too.
• Call the 1st ‘Energy — renewable and non-renewable sources’ — this portfolio will be all about transitioning away from fossil fuels to renewables and as such will require a different set of skills and goals from current.
• Call the 2nd ‘Nature, Parks and Biodiversity,’ and move what used to be called Parks and Biodiversity here.
• Rename the ‘Environment and Climate Change’ portfolio to ‘Weather and Climate Change Adaptation‘ because well, who are we kidding….climate change is here and communities need help to be able to adapt.

With Creativity, Courage and Caring,

A resolute mom, Puneeta Chhitwal-Varma