Statement by Julia Levin, Associate Director, National Climate, Environmental Defence
Over the weekend, while Canadians across the country are dealing with raging wildfires and the aftermath of severe flooding and heatwaves, PM Carney quietly moved forward with his oil pipeline plans.
It’s no wonder he didn’t want to draw attention to this environmentally and economically risky project, and the breakneck speed at which he wants to get it approved without due oversight.
In the words of the UN Secretary General last week, “[e]very new fossil fuel project approved today makes tomorrow’s heat waves more dangerous and our world less secure.”
How many wildfires, heatwaves, droughts, burnt down communities, ruined livelihoods, and lost lives will it take for PM Carney to stop his reckless pursuit of expanded fossil fuel production?
More information
- On August 1, the Government of Canada gave notice that they intend to list the West Coast Oil Pipeline as a project of national interest under the Building Canada Act. According to the Act, notice must be given 30 days prior to a project being listed under the Act.
- Listing the project will allow the pipeline to proceed without adequate environmental and health assessment and circumvent important safeguards.
- The Government of Canada announced they will be holding public consultations until September 18th.
