Most of the commentary on the Cons' Lake Boondoggle has talked about it in the context of the appalling mismanagement surrounding the G8 and G20 summits. And there's good reason to make sure that it's classified as an egregious example of the Cons' misuse of public money. But there's another side to the story which should also be highlighted.
After all, Canada is home to over 30,000 lakes - and as JAWL notes, one of the Great ones is found within walking distance of the Toronto event site.
But the Cons' tourist strategy is based on the belief that there's no point in directing conference visitors to any actual nature. Instead, the minister from Muskoka seems to have decided that everything he wants to promote about its wilderness can be captured in a temporary indoor structure.
So what does it say about how the Cons value Canada's natural beauty if they think it's possible to experience the majesty of our natural environment using a wading pool and a TV screen? And if the Cons think they can build a reasonable facsimile of Canada's great outdoors anytime they want to, doesn't that bode rather poorly for how well they'll bother to protect the real thing?
Update: The Council of Canadians pairs a similar observation with a campaign to name the fake lake "Harper's Folly". About my only worry is that the many other name-that-lake suggestions will be keep any one from sinking into the public's consciousness - but the Council's suggestion looks like one worth sticking with.
(Edit: fixed wording.)
No comments:
Post a Comment