(VICTORIA) – In front of hundreds of supporters in Victoria today, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands), vowed to defend Canada’s coasts.
“We will defend our coastal waters from risky pipelines and oil tankers,” said Ms. May. “The Green Party is the only party standing up for the people and communities threatened by these destructive projects, including Kinder Morgan and the Energy East Pipeline,” said Ms. May.
Elizabeth May added, “It is bad economic planning to ship out raw resources like bitumen. We should never ignore the inevitability of a spill and the risks this entails. Bitumen mixed with diluent is a toxic product that is impossible to clean up. Our communities must not be a casualty of reckless oil sands expansion.”
In the next minority Parliament Green MPs will:
- Legislate the 1972 supertanker moratorium on B.C’s north and south coasts;
- Restore and enhance Canada’s environmental laws – in particular, Canada’s Environmental Assessment laws need to be stronger than they were when Bill C-38 repealed them;
- Embed the right to a healthy environment in Canada’s constitution;
- Develop a national energy plan with a commitment to strong climate action through our Council of Canadian Governments;
- Defend the St. Lawrence River and place a moratorium on drilling for oil and gas in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and defend the Bay of Fundy; and
- Work with First Nations to stop forcing them into court challenges over their rights to defend their traditional territory and coastlines and instead allow for investments in sustainable economies based on Indigenous self-determination.
Glenn Sollitt, Fisheries Critic and candidate (Courtenay Alberni), continued, “One accident could cripple the billion dollar fisheries and tourism industries that are crucial to our coastal communities. It is time to think like a country again and develop a national approach to a diversified energy strategy.”
“The lobster fisheries are a crucial to Fredericton’s economy and just one pipeline spill in the Bay of Fundy could destroy local businesses and the environment,” said Mary Lou Babineau, professor, and candidate (Fredericton).
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For additional information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Julian Morelli
Director of Communications
Green Party of Canada
cell: (613) 614 4916
office: (613) 562 4916 (224)
julian.morelli@greenparty.ca
Or
Kirsten Strom
Executive Assistant to Director of Communications
t: 613.562.4916 (200)
Toll Free 1.866.868.3447
kirsten.strom@greenparty.ca