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David Suzuki to Launch National Tour As Public Interest in Environment Soars

Posted on: Monday, 29 January 2007, 18:00 CST

HALIFAX (CP) - David Suzuki is launching an election-style, national tour this week, starting on the East Coast, to urge Canadians to make the environment their top political issue.

The science broadcaster's tour will stop at cities across the country, and audiences will be asked, "If you were Prime Minister, what would you do for the environment?"

Suzuki says he wants to know what Canadians in 40 communities think, and hopes his tour becomes a jumping-off point to make environmental issues the top concern in the next federal election.

The prominent environmentalist says the country is at an "historic moment" of being extremely concerned about environmental issues.

Suzuki plans to kick the tour off in St. John's, N.L., on Thursday with a public meeting that has already sold out.

From there it's on to Halifax on Friday, and Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick on Saturday for public meetings.

Suzuki says when the tour wraps up in March, he'll take the concerns and ideas he's heard to Ottawa.

Canadian celebrities will join Suzuki throughout the tour, with musicians such as Sarah Harmer and Anne Murray performing, along with TV personalities like Rick Mercer, and NHL players Andrew Ference and Robyn Regehr of the Calgary Flames.

"People of all stripes are lending their support to the tour because the environment isn't a partisan issue," says Suzuki.

The tour has a theme song courtesy of Canadian musician Raffi - a rockabilly number called "Cool It," about global warming.

The David Suzuki Foundation says the carbon emissions associated with the tour are offset through investments in sustainable energy projects, such as wind farms, solar installations, or energy efficiency projects.

Source: Canadian Press

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