Thoughts on the 700 jobs cut at Environment Canada

Media Release, August 4, 2011

Don't be fooled - this is NOT about the deficit. This is about a blatant disregard for the environment and the health and safety of Canadians.

We should NOT be surprised Environment Canada is the first department to face the axe. We have all seen the vindictiveness of the Harper government and no department has presented more of problem, nor stripped away more of the contrived moderate veneer of Stephen Harper’s government, than Environment Canada. So no one should be surprised he would gut it at the first opportunity.

An eleven percent cut to one of the smallest federal departments will NOT rid us of the deficit.

“What it will do is give polluters exactly what they want - a toothless, understaffed Environment Canada with weakened scientific capacity and no enforcement capability,” said Sierra Club Canada’s Executive Director John Bennett.

“I would hazard a guess that the spin machine known as the ‘communications branch’ of Environment Canada won’t see any cuts,” said Mr. Bennett.

Even in full-spin mode, however, the communications branch nor former anchorman and current Environment Minister, Peter Kent, will be able to sell this blatant attack on the environment and our natural heritage as ‘belt-tightening’.

Canadians aren’t stupid.

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