Approving a massive new tar sands mine to operate until 2067 would be a complete contradiction of Canada's commitment to zero-out greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. There isn’t any space for new oil and gas projects within a carbon budget that keeps warming below 1.5 degrees.
There is no better reason for unity than fighting climate change together as a nation. Wherever and whoever we are, the climate crisis will affect us, but racialized and low-income communities are already suffering the effects of worsening storms, floods, heat waves and wildfires. From coast to coast to coast, we are all vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis.
Instead of polluting oil projects, Cabinet must call for investments in renewable energies and release a transition plan for oil workers right now. They need good healthy jobs for their families.
But it comes with a price. We can’t let Big Oil influence government decisions and weaken national unity for the sake of corporate interests. Federal policies must be for the people, not millionaires. This begins with an end to subsidies for fossil fuels and the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure, including Teck Frontier.
Ask Chrystia Freeland to unite behind science and reject Teck.