On green policy

Several environmental groups are taking a fiscally-conservative approach in trying to win a less damaging budget:

The Green Budget Coalition of 20 leading environment groups made cost-cutting the theme Wednesday as they delivered their annual pre-budget recommendations...

"The federal government's intention to cut wasteful spending can, in fact, play an important role in creating healthier lives for current and future generations of Canadians," said coalition chair Julie Gelfand.

The coalition says cutting subsidies to the petroleum sector would save Ottawa $1.4 billion annually, ending support for nuclear power would save $150 million annually, and the mining sector would yield $80 million annually.

"We're trying to help the Harper government deliver on its commitment to cut spending," said Elizabeth May of the Sierra Club. "There are billions of dollars to be saved."

It doesn't appear all that likely that Harper will go against his Alberta backers by forcing the oil industry to survive without the current degree of subsidization. But at the very least, due credit to the coalition for showing how environmentally-responsible policy can be as helpful for Canada's balance sheet as for its environment...and for forcing the Cons to try to defend some of the most wasteful spending currently on the ledger.