Federal government’s Teck Frontier Mine approval would greatly undermine Canada’s ability to follow through on climate promises
For immediate release
TORONTO, February 13, 2020 — Voters in more than 100 Liberal ridings across the country are visiting their MPs this week to demand the Liberals reject the Teck Frontier tar sands mine. After declaring a climate emergency and seeking re-election on their climate commitments, approving Teck would betray the voters who sent the Liberals back to Ottawa.
“I voted Liberal because they promised to take climate seriously, but after hearing news reports that they might approve the Teck Frontier mine, I’m concerned I’ve been fooled” said Sabine Dreher, Etobicoke Centre. “Teck is bad for climate. It’ll kill our climate targets.”
Over 700 people have signed up to visit their MP, including in the ridings of Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister Chrystia Freeland, Minister Steven Guilbeault and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The visits are being organized by Leadnow with support from groups including Stand.earth, Greenpeace and Équiterre.
“Trudeau’s climate legacy is on the line. The Liberals need to remember they lost their majority and are accountable to the two-thirds of voters who voted for a party which committed to serious action on climate,” said Claire Gallagher, Leadnow Senior Campaigner.
If approved, the Teck Frontier mine will emit approximately six megatonnes of carbon emissions (CO2e) per year until 2067, well beyond the Liberals’ target timeline of net zero by 2050. It will also violate the rights of Indigenous Peoples, including local Indigenous culture, resources and land use. Recently, the media has speculated that the Liberals may approve the Frontier mine with the conditions applied, including that Alberta commit to be net zero by 2050.
“Voters won’t accept any conditions given that they can easily be broken — as we have seen with decades of promises regarding oil sands tailings ponds clean up.” said Sven Biggs, Climate & Energy Campaigner, Stand.earth
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Dale Robertson, Media Relations, Équiterre
514 605-2000
About Leadnow
Leadnow organizes campaigns that build and defend a just, sustainable, and equitable Canada. We help hundreds of thousands of people take action at the times and in the places that matter most by providing non-partisan opportunities for digital and real life democratic engagement. Visit leadnow.ca for more information on our mission and campaigns.
