History repeating

The CP expands on this week's story about the Canadian Environmental Network, noting that a series of other programs aimed at promoting environmental awareness have also seen their funding disappear without warning or explanation:

Environment Canada is reviewing its funding for a bundle of programs that support grassroots environment groups across the country.

Some of those groups are in crisis mode since they expected funding in April, and are having trouble paying staff...

Critics say the current situation follows a pattern seen with literacy groups last year, when funding was first delayed and then terminated.

"Clearly they've bundled all the programs that in any way might support environmental work by citizens' groups and are apparently making some kind of decision on the future of it, that's what's going on," said David Coon of the New Brunswick Conservation Council.

"It's putting a lot of smaller organizations into jeopardy."

Among the programs in question:

-The EcoAction Community Funding Program which provides financial support to community groups for projects "that have measurable, positive impacts on the environment," in the words of the Environment Canada web site.

-Learning for a Sustainable Future, which "works with educators from across Canada to integrate the concepts and principles of sustainable development into the curricula at all grade levels," also according to the official web site.

-The Atlantic Coastal Action Program set up by Environment Canada 1991 "to mobilize local communities to address their own environmental and developmental challenges." The programs (sic) supports 16 local groups throughout the four Atlantic provinces.

-The Canadian Environmental Network, which provides basic networking services for some 800 environmental groups across the country. That group has warned its employees they may get layoff notices next week.

Once again, it's clear that any genuine funding review would have taken place before programs faced a risk of outright running out of money.

Instead, the Cons are apparently testing whether they can get away with finding ways to do even worse on the issue that's currently the top concern of Canadians - presumably with the goal of reducing the current interest in the environment before any future election, along with directing any funding toward more partisan-friendly organizations. But that complete disconnect between government action and citizen concern also signals why the Cons figure to be in for a fall when the next trip to the polls comes around.