20 THE HILL TIMES, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2013 OPINION POLITICS & MEDIA dismissing the NDP’s potential to govern. As a result, some Canadi- ans have become increasingly dis- mayed by the lack of media scrutiny Trudeau is receiving. In comparison, shortly after Thomas Mulcair replaced Nycole Tur- mel as leader of the NDP, it seemed as though the media were ready to pounce on every mistake he made. A conversation with CBC’s Evan Solomon on resulted in a six-month battle with media commentaries often twist- ing every word Muclair said just to discredit him. Similarly, for the past decade, the media have focused on ’s negative policies, but rarely on his positive ones. Then, The Hill Times Hill The of course, there is the Bloc Québécois; not much to say there, they’ve been ignored completely. Yet, when the new leader of the Liberal Party is chosen, he is faced with next to noth- ing in terms of scrutiny. Why is this? How can form their Photographs by Jake Wright, Wright, Jake by Photographs own opinion on leaders who refuse Trudeau’s got a ticket to ride: The media are dismissing NDP Leader ’s potential to govern and are giving Grit Leader a free ride, argues Darcey Dupuis. to release or discuss policies with the mainstream media? More specifi- cally, how can the media continue That election proved to a to report on Justin Trudeau, in some groundbreaking year in politics for cases defend him, when he refuses What’s up with all of the political parties. The Con- to speak on the topic of politics? servatives won their first major- Canadians don’t want another ity, won the first Prime Minister who will only address seat for the Greens, the Liberals issues that benefit him/her. If Trudeau and Bloc Québécois lost a record wants to become the next Prime national media’s free amount of seats while the NDP Minister, he’ll need to come forward won a record number of them. and start acting like a real candidate Despite the fact that the NDP for the job. Sadly, as Trudeau stated won enough seats to become the himself, he would only like to discuss official opposition, the party seemed policy at election time. to lean on the side of caution. If that’s how he wishes to ride for Trudeau? Everybody knew within the behave, then the media need to party’s membership that the next stop coverage. What has become four years would prove to be diffi- of the media that seek answers, How can we, as a society, real hope and optimism for Cana- cult. Being recognized as the “third truths, facts, and policies from re-establish the link once held dians is that our political reality party” for 50 years, many knew the party leaders? Trudeau-mania 2.0 proudly by every eligible voter in appears to be more convoluted party wouldn’t get a free ride from has created a mockery of the main- this country? than ever by increasingly vocifer- the media. Often dismissed as irrel- stream media and their purpose of Among his dying words, the late ous opinion pieces in journalism. evant prior to the election, media informing Canadians of the facts. used three specific Sadly, these commentaries are scrutiny would have automatically The truth is, it didn’t begin with BY Darcey Dupuis words that he wanted Canadians contributing to the growing dispar- shifted towards the question “Is the Justin Trudeau, but it needs to end to use in order to empower them- ity in understanding what our politi- NDP really ready to govern next?” with him. In order to bring hope ARSON, ONT.—In an era of selves and those around them to cal leaders or their parties actually had it not been for the untimely and optimism back to politics, Gincreasing dissatisfaction make positive changes in the politi- represent. How can we, as Canadi- death of its leader. Canadians need facts, not opinion, within the political realm of vot- cal arena: love, hope and optimism. ans, change this to our benefit? Fast forward to today. and with that in mind they should ers versus politicians, it appears Unfortunately, since then, I was in on the evening Not surprising, several months be demanding it from journalists! that over the last two decades, the anything but that has happened of May 2, 2011, as the results of the after the leadership race that herald- Darcey Dupuis is an active Canadian political climate has in the realm of politics. One of 42nd Canadian general election ed Justin Trudeau as the leader of the member of the NDP. soured beyond control. the problems with establishing were being announced nationwide. Liberal Party, the media are already The Hill Times

ENERGY : becoming an energy superpower

neously power the modern indus- ing alone. It is the next stage of bitumen as a low value-fuel is over the past decade, and recent trial and social structure of civili- nation building. value-destruction on a huge scale, exploration efforts have resulted zation. Canada, however, has yet Bitumen Exports Value-added as noted by Frank McKenna. The in potentially significant new to take advantage of an outstand- products in the form of fuels recently-announced government/ reserves. The offshore petroleum ing nation-building opportunity. and chemicals from ’s industry plan for a new West–East industry has driven high economic BY Richard J. Marceau An East-West power corridor oil sands are uniquely Canadian pipeline, and the expressed inter- growth in Newfoundland and supplied from remote hydroelec- opportunities. Shipping raw bitu- est of various regions to upgrade Labrador and the new findings are and Clement W. Bowman tric and nuclear sites could now men outside Canada for process- bitumen, is an excellent start for a casting a new light on the future be built with nodes for the sale of ing and upgrading is not the path- national strategic plan. role of Atlantic Canada in export- anada’s economic success has power North-South to the huge way for success. As Jim Stanford Low Carbon Exports We must ing both crude oil and upgraded Cdepended on being a trading North American market. Canada has stated, our cycles of staples also pave the way to a lower-car- products to world markets. nation. Our vast, largely untapped has the potential to produce the extraction and export have bon future by taking advantage Canada is fortunate to have energy endowment provides an lowest cost electrical power on defined much of our past econom- of Canada’s huge land mass. A a team of visionaries who are opportunity to trade value-added the continent, based on the most ic history. There is a danger that key element to such a future is pressing forward with the above energy products, shifting from advanced power generation and the pejorative term of “hewers of to begin transitioning our needs opportunities, part of the Cana- our previous status of an energy SMART grid technologies avail- wood and drawers of water” will for high-value-added carbon dian Academy of Engineering’s superstore to a true energy super- able, with no viable competi- be expanded to “hewers of wood, fuels and chemicals to renewable pursuit of ‘Canada: Becoming a power. Here is the pathway pro- tion in this marketplace. A new drawers of water and scrapers sources of carbon. Transforming Sustainable Energy Superpower’. posed by the Canadian Academy national vision, based on a stra- of tar.” The oilsands bitumen is biomass from our vast forest and Richard J. Marceau is presi- of Engineering. tegic alliance among provinces not a tar; it is a complex mixture agricultural residues into high dent of the Canadian Academy of Electrical Power Exports and existing and new power of hydrocarbons with a range of value-added products is an impor- Engineering. Clement W. Bowman Electricity represents one of the companies, could achieve this boiling points with the heaviest tant national goal. is chair of the CAE Energy Path- highest value forms of energy. goal within two decades. This is fraction composed of complex East Coast Exports The offshore ways Task Force. It has shed all of its formation not an objective for any single chemical ring structures with oil industry in Newfoundland [email protected] history, and is ready to instanta- company or government work- high economic potential. Selling has registered impressive growth The Hill Times