ENERGY EAST: 3 Steps to protect your river and bay, . . . .

[Oscar]

3 Steps to protect your river and bay, your community, and the climate future of young people from Energy East

[ http://canadians.org/blog/3-steps-prote ... nergy-east ]

February 21, 2017 - 9:58 am

On Feb. 14, 2017, the Town Council of Sackville voted YES to oppose the Energy East pipeline, paving the way for other municipalities in New Brunswick to show leadership on the issue. The Councillors supported a presentation by students from Mount Allison University who were concerned about the false promise of jobs by TransCanada and of the imminent threat of climate change.

It is time for other Mayors and Councillors in New Brunswick to talk about Energy East in public with their constituents rather than in secret with TransCanada. Since 2013, TransCanada has been holding a large number of closed-door meetings with "45 municipalities in New Brunswick" (Senate Committee hearing in Saint John, N.B., October 19, 2016). [ https://sencanada.ca/en/Content/SEN/Com ... ev-52816-e ]

Below are 3 steps on how your town or city in New Brunswick can take a stand to protect their citizens. Links to talking points on Energy East are also included to give citizens the confidence to make a fact-based presentation on why their town or city should oppose Energy East.

STEP 1: SEND THE SACKVILLE RESOLUTION TO YOUR OWN COUNCIL & ASK FOR THE SAME OPPORTUNITY
Your request can be e-mailed to either the Town/City Clerk or the Mayor. Below is the text of a draft letter to Council:

A DRAFT LETTER TO COUNCIL

Dear Mayor and Council,

On February 14, 2017, the Town Council of Sackville joined a long list of municipalities in Quebec to take a vote and officially oppose the proposed Energy East pipeline. In Quebec, there are 340 municipalities, the l'Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) of 41,000 farmers, and the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake that officially oppose Energy East.

The Sackville Town Council passed their resolution after hearing presentations in their Council chamber from students of Mount Allison University as well as representatives from TransCanada.

We respectfully request that your Council provide the same opportunity for discussion and vote on a resolution to oppose Energy East. Here is the text of the Sackville resolution that may serve as a template for your own resolution:

WHEREAS global climate change is a real threat and the extraction and burning of fossil fuels exacerbates this threat and,

WHEREAS transporting diluted bitumen through Canadian communities, sensitive ecosystems and waterways is demonstrably dangerous to health and safety and,

WHEREAS encouraging and investing in such activities would not be consistent with our stated goals of sustainability and,

WHEREAS a more rational course of action would be to use scarce economic resources to develop and expand the use of renewable resources,

BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Sackville request that the Government of Canada protect the health and safety of our communities by denying approval for the Energy East pipeline.

We look forward to making a presentation to Council of our concerns regarding Energy East.

Yours sincerely,

STEP 2: COUNCIL HEARS PRESENTATIONS
The following is a list of talking points and references which can help in preparing your presentation to Council:

Talking points to support your own Council’s decision to oppose Energy East

18 Talking Points on why New Brunswick cities and towns should oppose Energy East
[ http://canadians.org/blog/18-talking-po ... nergy-east ]

Sackville becomes the first to oppose Energy East, paving the way for other municipalities in New Brunswick
[ http://canadians.org/blog/sackville-bec ... -brunswick ]

10 Compelling Reasons Why Mount Allison University and Sackville Should Oppose Energy East
[ http://canadians.org/blog/10-compelling ... nergy-east ]


Talking points to counter the spin and disinformation from TransCanada on Energy East

TransCanada delivers a barrel of alternative facts on Energy East to Sackville Town Council
[ http://canadians.org/blog/transcanada-d ... wn-council ]

STEP 3: COUNCIL VOTES ON THE RESOLUTION
It is important to show up for the Council vote and support the leadership of your Councillors.

In solidarity.

Mark D'Arcy
New Brunswick Energy East campaigner.
[ http://canadians.org/blogs/mark-darcy ]