Protecting our Commons

Last weekend, I was at the Peoples Assembly for Climate Justice at Dufferin Grove park. The peoples’ assembly is an interesting group, with members who represent a wide range of views on the role of government – anarchists and socialists and people who vote Liberal. I probably have more faith in government than many. But it was a conversation with a man passing through that stuck with me, because I think his positions and values reflect those of many in the mainstream. He spoke of a move away from the tar sands and of initiatives like Ontario’s Green Energy Act and FIT programme as “government coercion”.

I take issue with the notion that green policies represent government coercion – or perhaps what I disagree with is the pejorative tone. I believe that there is an essential role for government regulation in the protection of our Commons. Why? In short, because the capitalist economic model is designed to consume, and if we don't have protections in place, it will consume us to death. For better arguments than I can give, read The Value of Nothing by Raj Patel, or see the brilliant and ever relevant film The Corporation.

Further, there are many ways through which governments coerce us to behave in ways that are not socially or environmentally sustainable. I think our planet and our people could use some righting of the scales. A big example of ungreen government coercion are tax breaks for oil companies and subsidies for the Alberta tar sands (See the counter at Climate Action Network).

As we look ahead to the Ontario election, I believe it's essential that we look beyond ourselves and our families to the wider community and environment - upon which we all depend. What party offers policies that will protect and enhance our commons? What parties offers policies that support renewable energy technologies? green jobs? protect our green spaces? promote sustainable agriculture and support farmers? support an education system, including post-secondary that's accessible to all? Do we want a government that coerces us into selfish, unsustainable consumption, or that supports us all in caring for each other?