Church Leader Says Stephen Harper Fails Test of Leadership

TORONTO, Dec. 14 /CNW/ - The news last week that Canada was ranked the fourth worst of 57 countries evaluated for their climate change performance is a shameful ranking for a country that could do so much better, says the Moderator of The United Church of Canada.

In a commentary published in today's Ottawa Citizen, Moderator Mardi Tindal calls on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to exercise accountable leadership on climate change.

Tindal describes accountable leadership as accountability to truth, accountability to democracy, and accountability to our children.

"When the Climate Change Accountability Act (Bill C-311) was defeated in the Senate after being supported by the House of Commons, Prime Minister Harper called the bill 'irresponsible' and argued that its targets would throw 'possibly millions of people out of work.' This was a failure of leadership on at least three counts," comments Tindal.

She argues that, while ultimately in a democracy all of us are called to exercise leadership, a prime minister has a unique position of leadership, and there are some actions that only government can take.

"Now is the time for the prime minister to introduce urgently needed legislation to replace the Climate Change Accountability Act," says Tindal.

The full text of Tindal's commentary can be found at: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/fails+tests+accountability+climate+change/3973241/story.html.

For further information:

Mary-Frances Denis
Program Coordinator, Media and Public Relations
The United Church of Canada
416-231-7680 ext. 2016 (office)
1-800-268-3781 ext. 2016 (toll-free)
416-400-7273 (cell)
[email protected]