adplus-dvertising
Connect with us

Business

Alice Munro, dozens of Nobel Prize winners denounce Teck oilsands project – Global News

Published

 on


Canadian author Alice Munro and dozens of other Nobel Prize winners around the world have joined the heated opposition facing a massive oilsands project in northern Alberta, decrying the proposed development as “a disgrace.”

Munro, Canadian biologist Jack W. Szostak and 40 other global winners from various fields signed a letter addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland urging them to deny the Teck Resources Ltd. plan, as well as any expansion of the fossil-fuel sector.


READ MORE:
In letter to Trudeau, Kenney says rejection of Teck Frontier project could be ‘boiling point’ for western alienation

“The mere fact that they warrant debate in Canada should be seen as a disgrace,” states the letter, which appeared on the Guardian’s website Friday.

“They are wholly incompatible with your government’s recent commitment to net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050. And with clear infringements on First Nations rights, such projects fly in the face of rhetoric and purported efforts towards reconciliation.”

Story continues below advertisement






2:02
Reality check: Can energy producers be carbon neutral?


Reality check: Can energy producers be carbon neutral?

The signatories call fossil-fuel projects “an affront to our state of climate emergency,” and say the “importance of leadership in the coming few years cannot be understated.”

A decision on the $20.6-billion, 260,000-barrel-per-day Frontier project is supposed to come next week.






4:04
Treaty 6 grand chief says resource projects must be considered on their own merits


Treaty 6 grand chief says resource projects must be considered on their own merits

The project is expected to produce about four million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year over 40 years.

Federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Jonathan Wilkinson responded to the letter by saying Canada needs to be the cleanest source of resources for global markets as it transitions to a low carbon future.

“Cabinet will be considering the Teck Frontier project based on its merits,” he said in an email.

“We will take into account all circumstances and information available to ensure this is the best Canada can offer the world in terms of sustainable and responsible development.”


READ MORE:
Rejection of Frontier oilsands mine could result in $1.13B charge, Teck Resources warns

Those in favour of the proposal say it will create thousands of jobs and bolster Alberta’s struggling economy. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said Friday it would create 7,500 jobs and $70 billion of government revenue.

He also touted “cutting-edge technology” that would allow the Vancouver-based miner to produce oil with half the carbon emissions of an average barrel produced in North America.

Story continues below advertisement

Kenney told reporters in Calgary that he suspected the signatories were presented with a distorted view of the Frontier project.


READ MORE:
Teck Frontier mine not a ‘political gift’ from Ottawa: Alberta minister

“Many interest groups have been misrepresenting the Canadian oilsands as being the equivalent of thermal coal for example, which is manifestly ridiculous. It is counterfactual,” said Kenney.

“Our challenge … is to show the world a path forward about how we can extract energy with a shrinking environmental and carbon footprint. That’s exactly what we’ll do.”

Kenney called Teck mines “one of the most progressive mining companies in the world” noting its recent commitment to a net-zero carbon plan by 2050.

Meanwhile, the company itself said it was committed to fostering a low-carbon economy.






1:46
Complaints against Alberta government over Teck Frontier mine


Complaints against Alberta government over Teck Frontier mine

“Lower carbon oil from Frontier would replace higher carbon sources and contribute to reducing global emissions,” spokesman Chris Stannell said in an emailed statement.

Kenney also said the project was supported by 14 nearby First Nations and Metis communities and suggested the expected benefits would directly improve the lives of Indigenous people.

“We embrace the imperative of reconciliation. Reconciliation first and foremost means giving Aboriginal people a way out of poverty,” he said.

Story continues below advertisement

Nevertheless, opposition has been fierce.


READ MORE:
Indigenous leaders protest against major Alberta oilsands mine proposal

Critics have raised questions about how the mammoth dig would impact woodland caribou, old-growth forests, and waterfowl habitat.

And in public letters sent last week to the federal government and to other chiefs, Athabasca Chipewyan Chief Allan Adam said he was worried that Alberta’s failure to consult and take meaningful action on environmental concerns could jeopardize the project.

Opposition is strong even among Trudeau’s own Liberal caucus, where many Liberal MPs have openly campaigned against approval and consider it antithetical to Trudeau’s pledge to combat climate change.

Munro won the 2013 literature prize while Szostak won the 2009 prize in medicine. Other signatories include Bangladeshi banker Muhammad Yunus, who won the peace prize in 2006, South African-born novelist John Coetzee, who won the literature prize in 2003, and Austrian writer Elfriede Jelinek who won the 2004 literature prize.






2:32
Kenney has message for Ottawa on Teck Frontier Mine


Kenney has message for Ottawa on Teck Frontier Mine

The project has also drawn criticism from Hollywood stars Jane Fonda, Martin Sheen, Susan Sarandon, and Joaquin Phoenix.

The controversy comes as Trudeau’s government deals with another major energy project that crosses First Nations territory in northern British Columbia.

Hereditary chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en Nation oppose the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline and have blocked access to the work site, while Wet’suwet’en supporters have held protests on rail lines across the country.

Story continues below advertisement

After two weeks, Trudeau said Friday the barricades must come down.

© 2020 The Canadian Press

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

728x90x4

Source link

Business

All Magic Spells (TM) : Top Converting Magic Spell eCommerce Store

Published

 on

Product Name: All Magic Spells (TM) : Top Converting Magic Spell eCommerce Store

Click here to get All Magic Spells (TM) : Top Converting Magic Spell eCommerce Store at discounted price while it’s still available…

All orders are protected by SSL encryption – the highest industry standard for online security from trusted vendors.

All Magic Spells (TM) : Top Converting Magic Spell eCommerce Store is backed with a 60 Day No Questions Asked Money Back Guarantee. If within the first 60 days of receipt you are not satisfied with Wake Up Lean™, you can request a refund by sending an email to the address given inside the product and we will immediately refund your entire purchase price, with no questions asked.

(more…)

Continue Reading

Business

Turn Your Wife Into Your Personal Sex Kitten

Published

 on

Product Name: Turn Your Wife Into Your Personal Sex Kitten

Click here to get Turn Your Wife Into Your Personal Sex Kitten at discounted price while it’s still available…

All orders are protected by SSL encryption – the highest industry standard for online security from trusted vendors.

Turn Your Wife Into Your Personal Sex Kitten is backed with a 60 Day No Questions Asked Money Back Guarantee. If within the first 60 days of receipt you are not satisfied with Wake Up Lean™, you can request a refund by sending an email to the address given inside the product and we will immediately refund your entire purchase price, with no questions asked.

(more…)

Continue Reading

Business

CPC Practice Exam

Published

 on

Product Name: CPC Practice Exam

Click here to get CPC Practice Exam at discounted price while it’s still available…

All orders are protected by SSL encryption – the highest industry standard for online security from trusted vendors.

CPC Practice Exam is backed with a 60 Day No Questions Asked Money Back Guarantee. If within the first 60 days of receipt you are not satisfied with Wake Up Lean™, you can request a refund by sending an email to the address given inside the product and we will immediately refund your entire purchase price, with no questions asked.

(more…)

Continue Reading

Trending