Should I take the advice you have given me? Which will move neither of us closer to our purpose of living on this planet, nor the purpose of our job functions. You, as Director of Operations for the Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, and myself, as a person who is aware of some of the International commitments Canada has made towards sustainability, and sustainable human behaviour

Or should I send a copy of your letter to the Secretary General of the United Nations, the Prime Minister of England, and the media in all its forms in order they may understand that our government merely pays lip service to sustainability, and has no intention of bringing sustainability into its policy.

Prime Minister Tony Blair and the rest of the world recently chastised the United States for its lack of commitment in the movement towards sustainability. Why is the US lagging? Because of political will, and also the morality of its partners. Why morality? Because Canada has taken a stand on sustainability, if only in empty rhetoric, not in its reality as your letter clearly indicates.

Are we world citizens in Canada? I think so. I have traveled the last forty days across Canada in an intensive effort to interview Canadians and determine their perspectives: and virtually every Canadian I met considers themselves a world citizen. Every one also does not understand why our government continues to deflect itself from meaningful work by creating fear and uncertainty with issues we do not even care about. Yes, we are world citizens in Canada. And as such we expect our staff in government, especially one who has the title Director of Operations for the Minister of Canadian Heritage to be world citizen like. Certainly we can expect her to behave like a world citizen and take the actions requested in my first letter. It does not need the approval of Sheila Copps although she could pretend she initiated it. It does not require the approval of the Prime Minister. We have already made these commitments on the world stage.

You, on your own behalf can, understanding that as Director of Operations you yourself, may see that Canada has signed every accord on the concept of sustainability and that the letters you have asked me to write would be more appropriate coming from either yourself, your Ministry, or even the Prime Minister himself. As Director of Operations, it behooves you to move my letter of May 8th over to the correct desks, to do the work that you are paid to do by the people of Canada. It is insulting to the intelligence of the people of Canada to have you behave in any other manner.

Sincerely,

Mitchell L Gold C.A.
Assistant to the Executive Vice-President