I don't think that Harper's strategy is blind, he is clearly looking out for Canada's “enlightened self-interest” and our most profitable industry. I want Canada to be a powerful leader in the world, and I see the most potential for increasing Canadian power by encouraging the development and profitability of the oil sands.

The United States has a profound need for oil and I would rather that oil come from Alberta than from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, or anywhere else. Innovation is important, but also very risky, and the Canadian government is in a deficit position right now. I'd rather the Canadian government not be taking risks when there are healthy cash cows that should be milked.

Once the Government has raked in several more billion dollars from oil profits and eradicated the deficit then I think we will be in a better position to invest into innovative green technologies such as those that you mentioned.

From an investment standpoint Canada is being vastly outspent by most developed countries. Added to that is the fact that sequestration technologies are far more speculative than others that could make a significant contribution (battery technologies, geothermal, wind etc.).

I'm not sure of the intention of your comments about the tarsands but Harper's exclusive focus on them is more than blinkered it's blind. It turns us back in time to becoming hewers of wood and drawers of water. We need a strategy that creates higher value jobs. There is still opportunity even many areas of tech. Pulse Energy, Zenn, Rapid Electric Vehicles and others are examples of Canadian companies that are bringing innovative green solutions to market.

According to http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca: “The Governments of Canada and Alberta are investing more than $850 million in clean energy technologies that will dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and generate high-quality jobs for Canadians.”

Perhaps Harper should have emphasized this investment in green energy, rather than defending against the costs of going green.

There is probably far more opportunity for Canada to become a world leader in developing the oil sands than there is in developing European like “green nation” policies.

Some Europeans might not have listened to Harper's anti-green comments at Davos, but they will certainly be listening later this year if they are attending the G8 and G20 when Harper is the chair.