Isotopes, Wind Power and the Tar Sands: the Raitt Tapes

OTTAWA-- In the wake of a media storm over missteps by Minister of Natural Resources Lisa Raitt, Environment Minister Jim Prentice has announced a federal carbon-offset scheme.  "From the lost tapes uncovered by the Chronicle Herald, it would appear that the Alberta tar sands project for Carbon Storage and Sequestration got priority and robbed the extension earmarked for wind energy in the budget.  Due to the leak, Prentice has rushed his carbon offset scheme to a public announcement," said Green Leader Elizabeth May.  "After over three years without any regulations to meet weak climate change promises, Jim Prentice rushed to make a cap and trade announcement yesterday."

Nova Scotia's Chronicle Herald, first reported on Lisa Raitt's comments that money in the federal budget originally meant for wind energy was instead allocated to the tar sands,  “My suspicion is, what I told you, that Jim took the money for his clean energy plan. They said ‘Ah, they don’t need it’,“ said Raitt.  The comments were made on the same tape as her unfortunate reference to the isotope crisis as 'sexy'. 

Perhaps wanting to be seen as supporting action on climate change, given that the majority of Canadians are waiting for policies on this important issue, Minister Prentice has now announced a draft tradable carbon credit system, involving offset projects to counter greenhouse gas emissions.

"We will review the proposal in detail," continued May. "While it is good to have some sign of progress, this approach is not economy-wide and cannot meet the needed reductions in our emissions fast enough to avoid runaway global warming."

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Contact:
Michael Bernard
Communications Officer
Green Party of Canada
613-562-4916 ext. 244
(c) 613-614-4916
michael.bernard@greenparty.ca