As a Canadian citizen, I have an expectation that the federal government will create the proper direction for climate change within our country. As a first nation country, we have a greater responsibility, even greater than those that are developing.
Coming from a region that produces energy, it's almost in diametrical opposition to what I believe in personally. My municipal vehicle is a hybrid because I believe in reducing our impact. The LEED certification costs me an extra $6 million, but I insist on having it. When we look at our new development, we want to have geothermal and solar. I want landfill gas reclamation. I want us to be able to capture that and reuse it.
The challenge I face as a municipality.... My council is prepared to make those decisions on behalf of our citizens. When it costs us extra money and we're up against the financial wall that we are, as a nation we should be looking to find ways to support the initiatives that will help us reduce that, because inevitably, oil is going to be a commodity that is desired for a very long term into the future. Again, we need to set the appropriate standards as a nation, but we also need to support initiatives that can help us achieve those.