In spite of what has been referred to as a "flood" of evidence from fishing organizations, indigenous leaders, and environmental groups, the Senate has voted down an amendment to fix the new Impact Assessment Act, Bill C-69.
The amendment proposed by Senator Cordy in response to overwhelming criticism of the Bill from Atlantic Canadians, would have prevented offshore boards from chairing assessment panels that will determine where, when, and if oil drilling will go ahead in Canada's Atlantic waters.
As you know, I have little faith in the ability of offshore boards to credibly assess the risks of offshore drilling (For more, see my presentation and that of many others who presented to the Senate's Energy, the Environment, and Natural Resources Committee when they travelled to Halifax, St. John's, and St. John).
Because of what this will mean for Canada's Atlantic waters, the whales, fish, and fisheries that need protection from oil drilling, this Bill cannot stand.
Because the fallout from this will be rubber-stamping of 100 new exploratory wells and massive, seismic programs off Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, this Bill cannot stand.
Because Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore oil and gas ambitions will produce enough greenhouse gas emissions to produce almost 10% of the global carbon budget to keep us within the 1.5-degree Celsius limit, this Bill cannot stand.
With your help, we can get our elected leaders to fix this Bill before the government rises for the summer. But we don't have much time.
Please write now.
Thank you for taking action.
Gretchen Fitzgerald - National Program Director