How corrupt is the environmental review process? Or how is it that DFO, CEAA and NRCan decided that Petronas LNG was not a threat to the Skeena Salmon?

I do not use the word "corrupt" lightly. If not for a fairly random connection, I would merely be heartbroken at the environmental and climate atrocity wrapped up in the approval of Pacific NorthWest LNG. Instead, I am angry and deeply concerned that the Cabinet ministers who made the decision were denied key scientific evidence by the very civil servants who are mandated to provide them with the facts.

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British Columbians need to have a say on the provincial government's commitment to link the province's economic future to a very large bet on LNG. The total number of plants currently proposed for B.C. approach in volume the entire current global capacity.

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There is a catechism of the fossil fuel industry, with oft-repeated claims that seem by repetition to escape examination. Peter MacKay's recent opinion piece on pipelines was a veritable greatest hits compilation of such claims.

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The first "to-do" list focussed on changes to policy and legislation brought in under the Harper administration. But the damage was not confined to omnibus laws and brutal ideologically motivated cuts. More subtle damage was done to the principles that underpin Westminster parliamentary democracy. Our system of government has limitations on abuse of power, but they are not codified. 

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We need a stock-taking. A "to-do" list. Some of what the Harper administration broke will be easy to fix; much will be very hard indeed.

What we must do is insist the damage be reversed. There is an equally long list of steps to take moving forward -- but we need to repair immense damage to nearly every aspect of federal law and policy.

Here's a start:

1) Fixing security law:

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While I was on a television stage August 6 in the Toronto CityTV building on Queen Street West, sparring and trying to get a word in edgewise with the leaders of the Conservative, New Democratic and Liberal parties, south of the border on a more crowded stage stood the seven contenders for the Republican nomination. 

It is increasingly odd to realize that the voices of the established order, sources of top-down control and out-dated structures, are suddenly allies. My experience for decades was to deride the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for perverse "structural adjustment," the World Bank for bad development, the International Energy Agency for focussing on expanding fossil fuel reserves, and the Vatican for policies so opposed to contraception as to ignore the threat of HIV-AIDS. I now find myself in the oddest of positions as a Canadian. They are all more progressive than my own government.

I could claim "last night I had the strangest dream..."  It had to do with International Women's Day. And suddenly the male leadership decided it had really made too big a mess of things to be able to continue in good conscience.... And....political parties vaporized at the astonishing voluntary surrendering of power.. and with no parties... somehow the House of Commons reconvened with me as Prime Minister.

Now, given the chance, I get to assemble the best Cabinet I can.  And I decide to put together Canada's first all-woman, all-party Cabinet. (It's only fair.  Through most of our history Canada had all male Cabinets).  And the nice thing is, there is no shortage of talent right now in the House of Commons.

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