Cameron Wigmore: Green Party Member

April 28, 2007

Water and Oil - Tough to Mix, Easy to Sell

I've been following a lot of recent developments in Alberta on water and energy. There's a lot for us to be concerned about.

The aquifers are significantly depleted, yet the government continues to allow industry to use copious amounts of fresh water for their operations. Mexico, the USA and Canada are looking to share water. Guess who has the most? Where's the consultation with the people of this province & country who will be affected?

A power transmission line was approved without proper consultation with local landowners, and now it seems the government just wants to continue to ignore the concerns of Albertans who's money is being spent to build this power line. Other questions surround that issue.

Over the years the EUB has not heeded the advice to do baseline testing of water in order to allow for a benchmark to test against when complaints of water pollution come forward. Here we are many years later with water wells showing pollutants that shouldn't be there, but no record that they were or weren't there before nearby CBM drilling & fracing occurred.

The bottom line is that we Albertans, the people who elected our political representatives to represent us - are being ignored. Our concerns fall on deaf ears.

There must be a way to fix this.

(note: for reference documents and data email me directly at camsax(at)gmail.com)

1 comment:

camsax@gmail.com said...: Media Release:

Government must protect Canada's water supply, says Green Party

30.04.2007
Green Party calls for clear statement on bulk water exports

Government must protect Canada's water supply, says Green Party

OTTAWA – The Green Party is calling on the federal government to state categorically that it supports Canada’s current water policy, which prohibits bulk water exports to the US and Mexico.

“We are deeply concerned about the continual push towards continental integration that is going ahead largely outside public and parliamentary scrutiny,” said Green Party leader Elizabeth May.

The Green Party has learned that “water consumption, water transfers and artificial diversions of bulk water” were on the agenda at a roundtable on the “Future of the North American Environment,” held in Calgary last week.

“Canada's role in these proceedings is increasingly relegated to that of a natural resource base for the North American economy,” said Ms. May.

The roundtable is part of a series conducted by the North American Future 2025 Project designed to hasten implementation of the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP). The final report of the North American Future 2025 Project will be submitted to the Canadian, Mexican and US governments by September 2007, with the aim of “maximizing the policy impact.”

The Green Party’s international trade critic, Dr. Janet Eaton, warns that even though planners downplay the water agenda as a strategic planning exercise, the evidence suggests otherwise.

"We know that water – intentionally left on the back burner at the time of the SPP announcement – has moved to the front burner of the SPP proceedings,” said Dr. Eaton, who noted that rhetoric in support of selling our water has been increasing over the past year in both the mainstream media and from business consultants floating investment strategies.

“We’ve also learned that NAFTA super-corridors envisioned to run between Mexico and Canada will include infrastructure for utilities, including water pipelines.”

The Green Party rejects any federal or supra-national commitments or agreements that open the way to bulk water exports and would serve the required six months’ notice to withdraw from NAFTA in favour of a more democratic, responsible and equitable trade agreement with the US and Mexico.

Dr. Eaton said she is seeking leave to present the Green Party position at hearings on the SPP being conducted by the Standing Committee on International Trade.; 6:03 p.m.