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17 prominent Canadians to advise Canada at greenhouse talks
News Articles | Calgary Herald | Kelly Cryderman | December 09, 2009
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Canadian Ambassador to the United States Gary Doer, television host Mike Holmes, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, Inuit leader Mary Simon and former federal cabinet minister David Emerson are also part of the contingent of appointed advisers slated to travel to this city for consultations.
Such business executives as Nancy Southern, president and CEO of utility giant Atco Ltd., Galen Weston, the executive chairman of Loblaw Companies Ltd., and Jacques Lamarre, the former SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., executive, also made it on the select list.
“These are absolutely top-drawer, remarkable Canadians,” Prentice said in a telephone interview.
On Wednesday, Prentice attended climate change meetings in London with British officials — but stayed mum on exactly who he was meeting with. He is scheduled to arrive in Copenhagen on the weekend.
The purpose of the ongoing Conference of the Parties (COP) meeting is to find an agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol going forward from 2012. It’s believed that significant global greenhouse gas reductions are needed to avert the most dangerous effects of climate change.
Clare Demerse, an analyst for the Pembina Institute, an environmental think-tank, said Prentice’s advisers are “an eminent list of people,” but environmental non-governmental organizations with expertise in UN talks also should have been invited to join the Canadian delegation.
“I will assume they will have a totally different level of access to the minister,” Demerse said of the advisers.
Demerse said groups such as hers get to meet with Canada’s chief negotiator Michael Martin, but the real decisions will be made at the political level by Prentice and Prime Minister Stephen Harper. That’s key as the Pembina institute and other groups believe Ottawa needs to be much more aggressive when it comes to climate change policies.
She said the minister is missing direct input from Canadian climate scientists, and groups such as Oxfam Canada that will push for climate change financing to the world’s poorer countries.
“Those are things that the minister really needs advice on,” Demerse said.
However, Prentice said environmental groups are already well-represented in Copenhagen.
“There’s been a decided lack of balance in previous COP meetings,” he added.
Advisers list
Shawn A-in-chut Atleo: National chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
Elyse Allen: President and CEO of GE Canada.
Gary Doer: Canada’s 23rd ambassador to the United States.
David Emerson: Former federal Conservative cabinet minister.
Charlie Fischer: Former president and CEO of Nexen Inc. Special adviser on carbon capture and storage under the U.S.-Canada Clean Energy Dialogue.
Daniel Gagnier: Fhairman of the International Institute for Sustainable Development and past chairman, board of directors, for the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, past chair of the Canadian Standards Association, and past chair of the International Emissions Trading Association.
Linda Hasenfratz (Newton): CEO of Linamar Corp.
Mike Holmes: Host and creator of the popular television show Holmes on Homes, and eco-friendly homes developer.
William Lahey: Director of the Dalhousie Health Law Institute and an assistant professor at Dalhousie Law School.
Jacques Lamarre: Former president and CEO of SNC-Lavalin Group Inc.
Steve MacLean: President of the Canadian Space Agency.
Heather Munroe-Blum: President, vice-chancellor and senior officer of McGill University.
Robert Prichard: President and CEO of Metrolinx, the regional transportation authority for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, and vice chair of Canada’s Science, Technology and Innovation Council.
Indira Samarasekera: President of the University of Alberta.
Mary Simon: President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, a national Inuit organization.
Nancy Southern: President and CEO of Atco Ltd. and Canadian Utilities Limited.
Galen G. Weston: Executive chairman of Loblaw Companies Ltd., Canada’s largest food distributor.
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