After blasting them out of the ballpark, the Polaris Institute asks you to partake in a campaign to send precomposed letters to the leaders of Canada’s leading political parties. Here is my edited version of the letter:

Subject:

Get [IN] the tar sands

Body:

Dear Stephen Harper and Michael Ignatieff, [(and cc Elizabeth, Gilles, and Jack)]

I am deeply concerned that you are both stuck in the Alberta tar sands. [Aren't we all? Is the sand actually sticky?]

The tar sands represent the wrong direction for Canada. With three to five times the greenhouse gas emissions as conventional oil [(*chokes*)], severely damaging environmental and social impacts, and negative economic consequences for other provinces, the tar sands are taking Canada in the wrong direction.

[Let's get in the tar sands. Have a leadership debate on the valuable soil itself. Let the public hear and see where each of you stand on the soil. Let's hear what you think the course of action should be. Let's hear ideas for Canada to take global leadership in ecological innovation. Do we need to make use of the tar sands resource? We can save it, for a better day, with better technology, when it will be worth far more than what we get for it now. Because cutting off the flow, or rather stopping the digging, will impact the economy, and cost to stand up to corporations and nations, does not make the tar sands the right direction. Canada has an opportunity, with the right resources, to turn a new leaf. What would it take to create a beneficial green economic shift? It starts with good governance; and for that, we need co-operation of government, and the nation. You are the elected leaders of our nation. Get together, and represent. Have a televised debate, aside from the Circus of Uncommons, and show off your colours. The world is looking for change; let's take real leadership. You, are Canada's elected leaders.]

It is not too late to invest in the new energy economy of the future and turn your back on the tar sands. [We may never need to look back . Go get your fingers in the soil, and report back on it's stickiness; please.]
Sincerely,

Ernie Hilts