Last year when the only thing on peoples' minds was the Kyoto Protocol, David Suzuki came to Winnipeg to spread his pro-Kyoto rhetoric and invite the Premier and his government to take the "David Suzuki Nature Challenge." A professed tree-hugging environmentalist Doer readily accepted the challenge.

So what exactly did the Premier commit to There is a top 10 list of ways to conserve nature which includes eat meat-free meals one day a week, support car-free alternatives and choose a fuel-efficient vehicle. The Nature Challenge website advises that an "SUV uses almost twice the fuel--and releases nearly twice the emissions--of a modern station wagon, although both seat the same number of passengers."

Now one would think that since the NDP government is on record supporting the Kyoto Protocol (regardless of how much it costs) they would be doing whatever possible to ensure the continued protection of our environment. One would also think that they would want to lead by example. Unfortunately this is not the case. It was recently revealed that 8 cabinet ministers, including the Premier, are driving SUV's - those evil gas-guzzlers Suzuki's Nature Challenge railed against.

Ironically, even Conservation Minister Steve Ashton, is sporting around in a 2001 Chevy Blazer - this is the very same Minister that took a $14,000 junket up North to look at the polar bears and show the public areas where environmental change is harming wildlife. With one hand the NDP shakes their fists adamantly to save the polar bears and with the other hand they fuel up a fleet of SUV's.

In response to the outrage over their blatant hypocrisy, the Premier stated "this is not a car I purchased. It's a car owned by the public and given to the Premier." Doer claims that he has to hold onto this vehicle until the odometer reaches 150,000 km and he does not want to break the rules. Here's a thought Mr. Premier: change the rule.

Reaction from the Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism was priceless. Eric Robinson stated, "even in the western portions of the province, the roads are rough . . . " - no kidding Sherlock. Roads are so bad in all parts of the province because it's the government that he is a part of that hasn't fixed them.

We've all heard the old adage "do as I say, not as I do" - not only is statement the epitome of hypocrisy, it is now the NDP's new battlecry. This is the same group that stood on the taxpayer-funded soapbox to cram Kyoto down our throats as the only way to save the environment.

It was Thomas Jefferson that said, "what has been the effect of coercion To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites."

We know who the hypocrites are, but who are the fools