More than 40,000 people call on Canadian climate change minister to reject Teck’s Frontier Mine
January 24, 2020
Activists deliver petition to Jonathan Wilkinson’s office in North Vancouver; ask federal government to live up to climate leadership promise
UNCEDED COAST SALISH TERRITORY (NORTH VANCOUVER, BC) — Climate activists delivered a petition signed by more than 40,000 people to Minister of Environment & Climate Change Jonathan Wilkinson’s office today in North Vancouver, calling on the federal government to reject Teck’s Frontier Mine in Alberta — a project by Vancouver-based company Teck Resources to build the largest tar sands mine ever proposed.
Activists rallied outside before delivering the petition to Minister Wilkinson’s staff. Wilkinson happened to be hosting an open house at the new constituency office on the same day. The petition included 41,500 signatures from supporters of environmental organizations Stand.earth, Leadnow, and Environmental Defence.
Get photos & video from the petition delivery: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rP3VOhTyRglsZTUhHrq01U9bqzgcA4Px
“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Cabinet are about to make their first major climate decision since being re-elected: whether or not to approve the largest tar sands mine ever proposed. Going ahead with the project would cause irreversible impacts on the environment,” said Sven Biggs, Climate & Energy Campaigner at Stand.earth. “This mega-mine would release a shocking amount of carbon pollution — the equivalent of putting 1.2 million cars on the road — making it impossible to meet our international climate commitments. The federal government must live up to its promise of climate leadership by rejecting Teck’s Frontier Mine.”
“Prime Minister Trudeau’s climate legacy is at risk, and his Cabinet has a choice to make,” said Claire Gallagher, Senior Campaigner at Leadnow. “They can choose bold climate action as they promised in the election, or they can approve Teck’s Frontier Mine and send us backwards. They can’t do both.”
“This is about choices: whether to double down on the energy of the past or start embracing solutions,” said Julia Levin, Climate and Energy Program Manager at Environmental Defence. “Approving this project in the era of climate emergency is irresponsible — it’s adding fuel to the fire. Minister Wilkinson and the Federal Cabinet should remember that just months ago, two-thirds of Canadians voted for action on climate. Instead of expanding the oil and gas sector, what we need is investment in creating new opportunities for workers and communities.”
The event coincided with a week of action by Indigenous and climate activists against Teck’s Frontier Mine. On Monday, members of Indigenous Climate Action, Tiny House Warriors and the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs gathered outside Minister Wilkinson’s office in North Vancouver. On Wednesday, members of Beaver Hill Warriors and Extinction Rebellion held a protest against the project inside Canada Place in downtown Edmonton.
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Media contact: Sven Biggs, Climate & Energy Campaigner, sven@stand.earth, 778-882-8354