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Bagnell should consult Yukoners on climate change

I have appreciated being in communication with you recently concerning climate change and the necessity to act now. Respectfully, I have found your response lacking.

Open letter to Yukon MP Larry Bagnell:

I have appreciated being in communication with you recently concerning climate change and the necessity to act now. Respectfully, I have found your response lacking.

As one of your constituents, I request that you show leadership on climate change by holding public consultation meetings in a timely matter, so that elected officials are very aware of how Canadians want to fight climate change. It must be Canadians that set the political agenda and not politicians. There are at least three important events that you should consider in calling a public consultation meeting. Most importantly, there is the Council of the Federation (premiers of the provinces and territories) meeting that is to be held somewhere in Whitehorse on July 21-24. Secondly, there is to be a territorial election called any day now. Thirdly, the federal government plans to present its climate change plan sometime in the fall of 2016.

To reiterate, these public consultations on climate change need to bring all people together. You could play an active part and encourage everyone to share knowledge and expertise and to establish the political agenda to overcome climate change.

How pressing is our need to act now? We only have to take a look at the most recent record of high temperatures, forest fires and droughts around the world. As Yukoners are well aware of, this will surely happen in the Yukon as our forests get warmer and drier. Furthermore, there is little doubt in the scientific record: many environmental disasters are brought on by climate change and our reliance on fossil fuels.

As a proud Yukoner, I am counting on my fellow citizens, you, and all elected officials to show leadership and partnership in overcoming the imminent dangers of climate change and to act in solidarity for a healthier environment and a brighter future for our children’s children.

Bern Walsh, Whitehorse