The Conservation Council of New Brunswick issued the following statement in response to Premier Blaine Higgs’ planned participation in a pro-pipeline rally in Saskatchewan this weekend.
“We are deeply disappointed to learn that New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs is scheduled to speak at a pro-pipeline rally in Saskatchewan on Saturday, Feb. 16.
Scheduled speakers at the rally, organized by the former president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities and taking place outside the town of Moosomin, Sask., include Premier Higgs, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and federal Progressive Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer.
We urge Premier Higgs to listen to the overwhelming consensus within Canada’s scientific community that climate change is real and affecting our communities already, it is caused by human activity, and it is imperative that governments at all levels act immediately to reduce carbon pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
In New Brunswick, that means implementing the recommendations and actions in the province’s Climate Action Plan, developed in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders and following an extensive, all-party select committee on climate change.
Our Premier should focus on the job opportunities and sustainable long-term economic growth being enjoyed by jurisdictions across the world who are ambitiously pursuing renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
Earlier this month, health professionals across Canada called on politicians to “see climate change as we, and the World Health Organization, see it— as ‘the greatest health threat of the 21st Century’” and to see climate solutions “as we, and the prestigious medical journal, The Lancet, see them— as ‘the greatest health opportunity of this century.’” This call to action came from the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Nurses Association, the Canadian Public Health Association, the Urban Public Health Network, and the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment.
New Brunswickers have the skills needed to accelerate investments in clean energy technologies that keep us safe. Shifting to more energy-efficient and clean forms of renewable energy to power our economy is the surest way to maintain New Brunswick jobs and create new economic opportunities for New Brunswickers.”
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: Jon MacNeill, Communications Director, at 506-458-8747 (w), 506-238-3539 (m) or jon.macneill@conservationcouncil.ca.