Greenhouse Gases to Increase in Saint John

A letter to the New Brunswick Premier by Dr. Leland T. Thomas, Chairperson, Green Party of Canada, Saint John EDA.

Premier Shawn Graham
Legislative Assembly, Province of New Brunswick
Fredericton NB
30 May 2008

Dear Mr. Graham:

I read you announcement in today's Telegraph Journal, stating that "Ten of New Brunswick's top industrial energy consumers have signed agreements with the province to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an annual total of 200,000 tonnes" (and offering each up to $500,000 in public money - whatever came of the principle of "Polluter pays"?.)

However, these reductions will not even offset the forecasted 300,000 tonnes of GHG's to be emitted annually by Canaport LNG, beginning this November. And should the proposed second oil refinery be built, 3 million tonnes per year are expected to be added to the province's GHG emissions when it comes into production. With these projects poised to add millions of tonnes of emissions to the atmosphere, your announcement today pales in significance. Further, how will the province meet its greenhouse gas reductions, promised under both Kyoto, and the agreement between the eastern provinces and the New England States?

I look forward to your comprehensive reply.

Yours truly,
Dr. Leland Thomas, Chairperson
Green Party of Canada, Saint John EDA