A letter on behalf of five community groups was presented at a town hall on climate change and clean growth held by the Saint John-Rothesay MP on Wednesday evening asking that the government of Canada to say no to the proposed Energy East pipeline.
Those groups include the Saint John chapter of the Council of Canadians, Peace NB, Team Eco-Health, Fundy Research and Restoration Group, and the Saint John Citizens’ Coalition for Clean Air. The chairperson of that last group is Gordon Dalzell and he says he cannot support it.
“This infrastructure is going to allow the crude oil and the greenhouse gas emissions to increase for a longer period of time we’re just going to have an infrastructure that is going to perpetuate the carbon world,” says Dalzell, who adds that we need to move away from a carbon dependent society.
Sharon Murphy says the groups have made it clear the pipeline and marine terminal would facilitate the expansion of the tar sands which would create more climate change.
“So really in Saint John we’re implicated at the end of the line if we accept such a project we’re basically making an immoral decision on the backs of our children’s children,” says Murphy.
Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long says it’s no secret that he’s a strong advocate and proponent for Energy East but that they’re committed to an open and fair process.
“Tonight was about letting people have their say and bring their viewpoints, many of them were certainly opposed on Energy East tonight because this was a climate change conference, that’s what it was about, and I respect everybody’s input,” says Long.
Ideas that were suggested include developing new carbon fuel standards, funding to help factories and other industrial facilities reduce emissions and that we should be transitioning away from fossil fuels and that the city of Saint John and country as a whole need a plan to make that transition.
MP Long will take all the submissions and forward them to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna and her department for the federal approach on climate change. You can submit your idea by going to www.canada.ca/climateaction.
