(OTTAWA)– Today in Question Period, Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada and Member of Parliament for Saanich – Gulf Islands, asked Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney, what steps he will take to educate the RCMP about the threats of climate change.
“We now know that the RCMP are monitoring those it describes as ‘anti-petroleum’ ideologues. In the January 2014 report obtained by Greenpeace, the RCMP appears to be completely unaware of the scientific consensus that burning fossil fuels is a direct threat to our future.
“In combination with the so-called ‘anti-terrorism measures’in Bill C-51, this description of the climate movement as a threat to Canadian security is both bizarre and disquieting,” said May.
Minister Blaney did not answer Elizabeth May's question. Instead, Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq answered, and made no reference to May's question in her answer.
“It is obvious that the agency’s assessment relied heavily on oil industry lobbyists and commentators for their background information,” added Bruce Hyer, Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Canada and Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay – Superior North. “Otherwise the RCMP might not have ignored the fact that climate change is a ‘threat multiplier’ that has the potential to increase many of the challenges we are dealing with today- ranging from controlling infectious disease to terrorism.
“Of particular concern is the inclusion of the quote from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers saying that we have no choice but to continue depending on fossil fuels, stating that ‘all forms of energy production must continue to expand to meet global demand’. The RCMP is supposed to protect Canadians before Big Oil.”
"The RCMP must understand that the real enemies of Canada are uncontrollable forest fires, the erosion of our coasts, and extreme storms – all of which are caused by climate change,” concluded Daniel Green, Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Canada. “The RCMP must stop targeting citizens working to prevent climate disasters.”
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For additional information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Julian Morelli
Director of Communications
Green Party of Canada
cell: (613) 614 4916
office: (613) 562 4916 (224)
[email protected]