Say one thing, do another (en francais)

If anyone's wondering just how all pervasive the "government will take care of us" mentality is becoming in Canada, this article represents a scary eye-opener. It's no wonder Canada's green house emissions have gone up since signing the Kyoto protocol, instead of going down. The average Canadian is waiting for the government to take care of things.

As long as we do things like heavily subsidize hydro (in Ontario) so that consumers don't see or feel the real costs, nothing will change.

Canadians fail to act on green intentions (subscribers only)
Survey finds many excuses
Michael Kane, CanWest News Service
Published: Saturday, April 01, 2006

VANCOUVER - Canadians care strongly about saving the planet, but wrongly believe that many of their fellow citizens don't, according to a new survey.

They blame inadequate information and a lack of government leadership for their own failure to behave sustainably while assuming that others are not really concerned, said James Hoggan, a public relations expert.

"They think, 'Well, why should I be the chump who behaves in a more environmentally friendly manner when no one else is?' But that's because they have this mistaken view that people outside their circle of friends really don't care. That's actually not true."

The survey shows that more than eight in 10 Canadians believe the government should enact stricter laws and regulations to support a more sustainable economy that protects and manages the country's resources for future generations.

They also want taxes shifted to those who pollute and deplete natural resources, and double GST slapped on gas guzzlers to fund tax rebates for fuel-efficient vehicles.

The findings were characterized by Hoggan as both a wake-up call and a leadership opportunity for government and business. He said advocates of sustainable business practices "are guilty of talking to themselves a lot" instead of reaching out to the public who drive public policy and consumer patterns.

"One of the key problems that we have in Canada is that Canadians do one thing and say another," Hoggan said in an interview. "Anybody who is trying to advocate sustainable behaviour should try to weave in the message that Canadians actually do care."

He said the survey demonstrates that the great majority of Canadians want the economy to be successful today while sustaining the country's environmental, economic and social resources for future generations.

Asked why Canadians don't behave more sustainably, 48 per cent blame government leadership first. More than seven in 10 Canadians surveyed agree with the statement: "If everyone in the world lived the consumer lifestyle we enjoy in North America, we would destroy the planet."

Hoggan also said companies and organizations need to do a better job of explaining the term "sustainability," which is defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

The survey is part of the Sustainability Research Initiative led by James Hoggan & Associates, a public relations agency extensively involved in environmental and sustainability issues, and the Globe Foundation, which promotes the $1.1 trillion international business of the environment.