“10,000 barrels of dilbit, a mixture of bitumen and toxic diluent, were spilled in Arkansas last week. Citizens in Toronto and everywhere along Enbridge’s Line 9 have legitimate concerns and tough questions to ask the NEB. Muzzling their opposition is against basic principles of natural justice. These new barriers to free speech would not stand up to judicial review,” said Green Leader Elizabeth May, Member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf Islands.

In their fight against Omnibus Bill C-38, the Greens tried to prevent the destruction of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA). Green Leader Elizabeth May put forward amendments –rejected by the Conservatives– to protect rights for public participation, which were once fundamental to the CEAA. The terms used in C-38 restrict public participation to those “directly affected”. “It is that terminology that has led to the abuse we witness today, but even with that restrictive language, the NEB has made it even more restrictive by adding its own two-week timeline,” said May.

“Enbridge plans to pump dilbit, with added benzene, a notorious carcinogen, through our neighbourhoods using an aging pipe system originally built for natural gas. What would a spill near Lake Ontario mean for the water supply of millions of people?” asked May.

“After muzzling scientists, Stephen Harper muzzles citizens. Add his obsession for the oil business and his disregard for Parliament in the mix, and you’ve got a great example of Harperland in action,” said May.

The post Enbridge’s Line 9: Needing Permission to Talk About a Pipeline Going Through Your Neighbourhood? Welcome to Harperland. appeared first on Elizabeth May.

CAPP released the principles for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to their members as voluntary guiding ideas for water management and reporting practices.  “No guidelines can prevent the damage from fracking.  There is no reason to allow this destructive practice,” said May.

Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”, is a process to release natural gas by pumping water, sand and other chemicals at high pressure deep into the ground to crack the rock.  Drilling sites have been plagued with severe chemical contaminations of surrounding air and water. Often, natural cracks in the rock allow contamination of aquifers and the list of chemicals that have been detected include a frightening mix of carcinogens and toxins such as benzene xylene, carbon disulfide, naphthalene and pyridines.

“Fracking has so many problems associated with it that it simply needs to stop.  The widespread contamination of water and soil, the massive amount of water needed and the lack of scientific understanding of the impacts, including the links to earthquakes—the practice is unsustainable to the core,” said May.

The post CAPP Principles Can’t Greenwash Fracking Problems appeared first on Elizabeth May.