“Continued expansion of the tar sands would lead to emission increases that would swamp emission reductions from Ontario, even if Ontario was successful in implementing policies – like carbon pricing – that would allow the province to meet its 2020 carbon pollution target,” Dale Marshall, national program manager with Environmental Defence, said.

Carbon pollution, because it is so intimately linked to energy development, must be an integral part of any energy strategy. The strategy will need to be cohesive, showing that energy development in Canada is consistent with climate commitments made by the provinces and the federal government, and with our global partners.

Essentially, one province with 11 per cent of the population, driven by an industry representing just 2 per cent of Canada’s GDP, would have levels of carbon pollution that are 93 per cent of emissions in the rest of the country. That’s not a scenario that reflects any notion of fairness.

View April 9, 2015 Greenpeace blog post
View April 9, 2015 The Globe and Mail article
View Environmental Defence Take Action page