Environment and sustainability

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I am glad to be talking to you today about the jobs vs. the environment dilemma because a major focus of my job is trying to resolve this dichotomy. I work with an advisory group of people who are from the labour, environmental, and First Nations communities and I’ve done research on BC’s forestry, oil and gas, fishing, and mining sectors.
There is one option in the federal discussion paper that does not allow Canada to meet its Kyoto commitments as negotiated in Bonn and Marrakech. Option 4, which uses credits for "clean energy" exports, continues the federal government's search for loopholes within an already negotiated agreement. This is troubling for several reasons.
It has been said that those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it. After the crisis in BC's resource sectors during the late 1990's, it would be wise of our business and political leaders and all British Columbians to look back and learn a few lessons.
(Vancouver) The BC Office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives released a groundbreaking new study today. Follow the Money: Understanding the Crisis in BC's Resource Sector finds that the 1990s crisis is mainly the result of two problems: lower international prices and a failure by BC's resource corporations to adequately invest in their provincial operations.