From TheTyee.ca - Jan 21, 2011

by Andrew MacLeod

Environmental issues were prominent in the 2009 election, with Premier Gordon Campbell's carbon tax giving him claim to the green high ground over the Carole James-led NDP which campaigned to axe a tax many environmentalists supported.

While there are varying opinions on whether those positions made a difference to either side's results, less than two years later none of the candidates to replace Campbell appear ready to pick up the green agenda.

Indeed, there have been few mentions of environmental issues in the Liberal race. Former cabinet minister and recent talk radio host Christy Clark has mentioned the green technology sector and jobs. Others have staked out where they stand on the carbon tax, with Kevin Falcon pledging to freeze it after 2012 and George Abbott saying he would hold a referendum on whether or not to freeze it.

But nobody in the running to be the next premier has really claimed the issue.

As Nathan Cullen, a federal NDP member of parliament who considered entering the race to replace James heading the BC NDP sees it, "The Liberals are running scared away from Campbell's climate change work, some of which needs to be enhanced and continued."

And environmentalists -- some of whom are encouraging people to join the parties and try to sway the campaigns -- are wondering whether there will be anyone to support in the Liberal race.

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