National Post: Tories caught in ignoble moment

[tuvor]

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Incredibly, the Conservatives declined to participate in a Wednesday afternoon reception saluting Canadian scientists who shared last year's Nobel Peace Prize with former U.S. vice president Al Gore for their role in researching and writing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's massive final report.

Okay, so a pair of Conservative backbenchers straggled in to watch Sweden's ambassador serve as master of ceremonies. One suspects they spotted the free wine and decent finger foods.

But no Prime Minister, no designated Harper cabinet stand-in and no John Baird, who is the minister in charge of giving his government's brownfield environmental policy a green cover for the election campaign.

It was a bizarre optic, topped only by the sight of the leader of the Green Party wishing Canada's prime minister had followed the fine example set by U.S. President George W. Bush.

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(University of Victoria research chair Andrew Weaver, one of the winning scientists) personally received congratulations from B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, the cabinet minister in charge of higher learning and his local (New Democrat) MP. From the Conservatives "the only feedback we've received was to cut programs, appoint their own people to granting councils and place a gag order on Environment Canada scientists." Ouch.

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http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=306591