[All] Fw: New Democrats on the Tar Sands

[Louisette Lanteigne]

FYI

--- On Thu, 8/26/10, laytoj at parl.gc.ca <laytoj at parl.gc.ca> wrote:

From: laytoj at parl.gc.ca <laytoj at parl.gc.ca>
Subject: New Democrats on the Tar Sands
To: laytoj at parl.gc.ca
Date: Thursday, August 26, 2010, 2:44 PM

Thank you for your recent email concerning the tar sands. We have been
following tar sands development very closely with special attention to
its impact on the environment.

Both Stephen Harper and Michael Ignatieff want to accelerate tar sands
development while sending jobs down the pipelines, toxics down the
Athabasca River and acid rain into Saskatchewan. These actions earned
Canada the international black eye on climate change received in
Copenhagen.

More recently, the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable
Development cancelled its report on the oil sands and water resources.
We feel this move is most regrettable. NDP Environment critic, Linda
Duncan (the only opposition MP from Alberta) sits on this committee. You
may be interested to know that Linda will release her own summary report
and recommendations benefitting from the extensive testimony,
information and expertise available to her.  You can read her response
to the actions of the committee at this link here:
http://lindaduncan.ndp.ca/node/195

Prime Minister Harper's fast tracking of approvals for tar sands
development and squashing important reports clearly demonstrates that he
can't be trusted to protect the environment. He has consistently put the
interests of his powerful friends in big oil before Canadians' right to
clean air and safe water. Despite warnings from his own government's
agencies, Harper has fast tracked oil sands development without any
conditions to mitigate the significant impacts on the environment and on
the health of affected communities. Rather than welcoming National
Geographic`s 2009 story on the environmental dangers of oil sands
development, Mr. Ignatieff said, "National Geographic is not going to
teach me any lessons about the oil sands".

It doesn't have to be this way.

New Democrat Environment critic Linda Duncan has challenged plans by
Syncrude and other oil companies to release tailings into the Athabasca
River. She said, "The federal government has a responsibility to protect
the Athabasca and the people and wildlife that rely on it."  You can
read more at:
http://www.ndp.ca/press/duncan-blasts-proposal-to-dump-toxic-waste-in-at
habasca-river 

You may be interested to know that a report by the Alberta-based Pembina
Institute has demonstrated that the oil sands operation in Alberta could
be made carbon neutral by 2020. This can be done in part by adopting
more efficient energy use or lower carbon fuels for processing and
purchasing offsets from less polluting industries.

It's time for our political leaders to take on big polluters, meet real
targets and invest in sustainable solutions. It's time for the right
leadership that will allow Canada to tackle climate change and seize the
opportunities of the new energy economy. To learn more about our plans,
please visit: http://www.ndp.ca/platform/environment/aplanthatwillwork.

Again, I appreciate your feedback as it is important to me. All the
best.

Sincerely,


Jack Layton, MP (Toronto-Danforth)
Leader, Canada's New Democrats


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