Before we can successfully cool down the contentious oil and gas debate and foster a more balanced energy conversation in Canada, from time to time we’re going to have to stand up to misinformation and fear-mongering.
So when Rob Breakenridge recently invited me and Wilderness Committee oil and gas campaigner Peter McCartney onto Rob’s popular AM770 radio program to discuss Canada’s energy future, I was happy to accept. I’m providing you with a link so that you can listen to the 18-minute exchange at your convenience. And I thought I’d also highlight a few points that you might find of interest.
Rob, as always, summarized the issue under discussion in a clear and even-handed way: We’re at a pivotal moment right now for Canada’s energy sector and for the debate around environmental policy. The key question is: Can Canada be a leader in both of these areas?
For the Wilderness Committee, as you might expect, the answer was a resounding ‘no.’ Does the committee oppose the Petronas LNG project in BC, or the TransMountain Pipeline Expansion Project? “Absolutely,” its spokesman stated.
My response? “Peter seemed to be suggesting that Canada should simply throw in the towel and quit the production of oil and gas. But these groups don’t protest – or oppose – or even comment on oil imports to Canada from countries like Saudi Arabia.
“Canada today is a leader in producing oil and gas to the highest environmental and worker safety standards on earth. We’re also a leader in clean tech – we’re ranked number four in the world, we’ve been consistently ranked ahead of many of the world’s largest countries like India in clean tech and renewable energy investment, we’re seventh in the world for wind capacity, 14th for solar, second for hydro, we’ve been the only supplier of oil to the US with carbon regulations since 2007, and I completely reject this false notion that Canada should sacrifice our fair trade oil and gas production, that’s again done to the highest standard, and give this market share to these other less regulated countries.”
Please listen to the complete discussion – it’s only about 18 minute long. Let’s work to achieve a more balanced energy discussion!