Posts Tagged ‘Ryan Leef’

The science, economics and politics of climate change

By Aaron Wherry - Tuesday, April 30, 2013 - 0 Comments

Further to last week’s debate on environmental policy and climate change, Stephen Gordon checks Dean Del Mastro’s assertions about carbon pricing, regulation and the costs of both.

It’s very true that oil companies are not charitable organizations–which is why it’s not a good idea to make policy based on the assumption that they will passively absorb the costs of new regulations. It’s not at all obvious why firms would pass along the costs of a carbon price but not the (larger) costs of regulation.

Meanwhile, Ryan Leef is being criticized for the information he has distributed on the polar bear population. And Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver received a rebuke from the scientist—now a Green candidate in British Columbia—he had previously cited. (Andrew Weaver is also a fan of taxing carbon.)

In other news, the NDP motion that initiated last Thursday’s debate was defeated last night and various New Democrats took to Twitter to criticize Elizabeth May for voting against. Ms. May responded with a lengthy explanation of her problems with the motion.

I would have loved to have seen a unified group of MPs from all the Opposition Parties rise on principle and (hoping against hope) some of the Conservatives who understand the need for climate action might have voted with us to give the Parliamentary call for reductions in GHG a chance of passing.  But since tonight’s motion forgot to call for climate action, maybe we could take a run at a properly worded motion another day.

There does exist, it should be noted, a multi-partisan climate change caucus. And Mr. Leef is one Conservative who attended its most recent meeting.

  • You can’t say that here

    By Aaron Wherry - Thursday, December 6, 2012 at 6:01 PM - 0 Comments

    It was apparently Ryan Leef’s turn to enunciate the party line this afternoon, so the Conservative MP for the Yukon stood in his spot along the back row and proceeded with his statement.

    Mr. Speaker, no matter how mad the leader of the NDP gets it does not change the fact that his $20 billion—

    Here, alas, the Speaker called for order and, without saying another word, moved on to the next MP (in this case, Susan Truppe). I would guess that Mr. Leef’s sin was alleging an unflattering personal attribute—”mad”—about another member. Thus was he deprived the further 55 seconds he might have had to relay his concerns. Don’t feel too bad for him though, he has already this fall used four of these precious opportunities to explain his opposition to the NDP’s position on cap-and-trade.

  • The Commons: A little progress

    By Aaron Wherry - Thursday, December 6, 2012 at 5:39 PM - 0 Comments

    The Scene. In succession, Susan Truppe, the parliamentary secretary for the status of women, Bloc MP Jean-Francois Fortin, interim Liberal leader Bob Rae, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair and Conservative MP Shelly Glover stood in the moments immediately preceding Question Period to mark the anniversary of the massacre at  l’École polytechnique de Montréal. At the conclusion of Ms. Glover’s remarks, all members stood and a moment of silence was observed.

    The Speaker then called for oral questions. Continue…

  • Nestlé: More than chocolate bars

    By Mitchel Raphael - Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 12:17 AM - 0 Comments

    Nestlé Canada held a special reception at The Westin Ottawa for MPs and folks…

    Nestlé Canada held a special reception at The Westin Ottawa for MPs and folks on the Hill. The night highlighted some of their products. “You make Häagen-Dazs” was a popular line when people found out Nestlé Canada had the rights to produce it in this country.

  • ‘Carbontax kapow!’

    By Aaron Wherry - Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 11:00 AM - 0 Comments

    That’s the title of the video Conservative MP Ryan Leef has uploaded to YouTube of himself delivering a members’ statement rant against a carbon tax.

    Meanwhile, Conservative MP Mark Warawa spent his Thanksgiving reflecting on how blessed he is and repeating talking points.

    Here is Mr. Warawa speaking favourably of a continental cap-and-trade system just ten months ago.

    And here again is everything you need to know about the Conservatives’ carbon tax farce.

  • Again with the cannibalism

    By Aaron Wherry - Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 12:26 PM - 0 Comments

    Following Ryan Leef’s flub, Peter Kent also introduces Stephen Harper as the “Prime Minister of cannibal.”

    Speaking as the announcement of a new national park in the Northwest Territories on Wednesday, Kent introduced Stephen Harper as the “prime minister of Cannibal” before quickly correcting himself …  the cabinet minister blamed Leef for his flub, telling the crowd the MP had regaled him with his own language mishap prior to the park unveiling.

  • ‘Prime Minister of cannibal’

    By Aaron Wherry - Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at 3:24 PM - 0 Comments

    Ryan Leef makes it onto the blooper reel.

    Maybe this has something to do with the nutritious children Bev Oda mentioned a few months ago.

  • Happy Canada Day

    By Aaron Wherry - Sunday, July 1, 2012 at 11:26 AM - 0 Comments

    Canada Day video greetings from Jason Kenney, Ted Opitz, Cheryl Gallant, Peggy Nash, Jinny Sims, Colin Carrie, Joyce Murray, Wayne Marston, Craig Scott, John Weston, Ralph Goodale, Elizabeth May, Robert Chisholm, Claude Gravelle, Christine Moore, Laurin Liu, Ray Boughen, James Lunney, Russ Hiebert, Jack Harris, Peter Braid, Steven Blaney, Randy Kamp and, expressing their best wishes in rather similar words, Daryl Kramp, James Bezan, Randy Hoback, Diane Finley, Ed Holder, Ryan Leef, Bob Zimmer, Dave MacKenzie,John Carmichael, Bal Gosal, Costas Menegakis and Parm Gill.

    After the jump, a video from the Prime Minister and statements from Thomas Mulcair and Bob Rae. Continue…

  • MPs, clams and Aquaculture

    By Mitchel Raphael - Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 10:01 AM - 3 Comments

    The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) held a reception at the Weston Hotel in…

    The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) held a reception at the Weston Hotel in Ottawa.

    Gail Shea (left), Minister of National Revenue, with the executive director of CAIA, Ruth Salmon

     

    Liberal MP Mark Eyking (right) with his son Josh.

     

    Continue…

  • MPs and wheelchairs

    By Mitchel Raphael - Friday, November 4, 2011 at 9:05 AM - 3 Comments

    MPs and senators spent a day in a wheelchair on the Hill to create…

    MPs and senators spent a day in a wheelchair on the Hill to create awareness on behalf of the Canadian Paraplegic Association.

    NDP MP Glenn Thibeaullt.

    Justin Trudeau (left) battles with Yukon Conservative MP Ryan Leef.

    Liberal interim leader Bob Rae.

    Continue…

From Macleans