New Democrats on Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <Nycole.Turmel@parl.gc.ca>
Date: 19 January 2012 09:48
Subject: New Democrats on Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline
To: Nycole.Turmel@parl.gc.ca


Thank you for your email outlining your concerns with oil tanker traffic on
the coast of BC via the Northern Gateway Pipeline. Please know that I share
your concerns.

First, let me comment on the Conservatives' recent musings about
environmental assessments and funding sources for environmental NGOs. When
it comes to an environmental assessment process, many Canadians have a stake
in both the process and the outcome. New Democrats recognize that this is
entirely legitimate. Interestingly, one must ask themselves: whose interests
are the Conservatives representing? Canadians or the interests of the
American and Chinese companies who will profit from the pipeline?

Furthermore, while the Conservatives feign concern over foreign donations to
Canadian NGOs, they seem to have no problem with one of their favourite
think-tanks, the Fraser Institute, receiving 9% of their funding from
foreign sources! (Annual Report, Fraser Institute, 2010 (pg 39):
http://www.fraserinstitute.org/about-us/who-we-are/annual-reports.aspx)

We are glad that President Obama has listened to people's concerns on both
sides of the border, questioning whether this pipeline is worth the high
environmental and social cost. This outcome is the direct result of this
government's inaction on the environment and refusal to properly regulate
the oil sands. That's why some of our closest trading partners are shutting
their markets to Canadian oil.

For our part, we have been consistent in our call for the government to ban
oil tanker traffic on the BC coast. Building on NDP past work that included
a motion calling on the government to ban oil tanker traffic on the BC
coast, in June 2011 NDP MPs Fin Donnelly and Nathan Cullen laid out a
legislative proposal for a permanent ban on oil supertanker traffic off the
north coast of British Columbia.

We have long felt that these supertankers are all risk and no reward - it's
all about shipping raw bitumen from Alberta's tar sands to Asia.
Additionally, banning oil tanker traffic would effectively stop any move by
Enbridge to ship oil through its planned $4.5 billion Northern Gateway
Pipeline.

You may also be interested to know of our party's efforts to cut subsidies
to non-renewable energy producers, and redirect these revenues into clean
energy projects. We feel that the Conservative government's irresponsible
support for the fossil fuel industry is leaving Canada behind and costing us
billions. (http://www.ndp.ca/platform/tackle-climate-change#section-4-2).

You can read more about our ideas to help achieve a cleaner and healthier
environment by visiting:
http://www.ndp.ca/platform/tackle-climate-change
http://meganleslie.ndp.ca/post/ndp-calls-for-action-against-climate-change
http://www.ndp.ca/press/climate-change-conservatives-inaction-putting-jobs-r
isk

Our team of New Democrat MPs remains committed to putting forward practical
solutions that will move Canada forward and ensure that we maintain a clean,
sustainable Canada for future generations.

Again, I appreciate the time you have taken to voice your concerns. I invite
you to visit our website at www.ndp.ca to learn the latest about our team of
New Democrats. Also, feel free to pass along my response to your network of
friends and family.

All the best,


Nycole Turmel, M.P.
Interim Leader of the Official Opposition
New Democratic Party of Canada