Canada’s governing Conservative party, which clings to power with a slim minority in Parliament, banished its usual traveling partners – the political opposition and Canadian environmental organizations – from its Bali delegation, choosing instead to bring along executives from one of the largest Canadian-owned energy firms, Encana.

The Conservatives’ almost exclusive reliance on oil company executives for advice on climate change policy could help explain why the country ranks as the fourth-worst in the world for its performance in addressing global warming. On policy alone, the Germanwatch ranking of 56 industrialized nations puts Canada in 55th spot.

No wonder Environment Minister John Baird sounds so relentlessly self-serving when calling on developing nations to take the first step in addressing greenhouse gas emissions.

Thanks to the Globe and Mail and to DeSmog reader VJ for the spot.