“We have to have processes in Canada that come to a decision in a reasonable amount of time and processes that cannot be hijacked,” [PM Stephen Harper] said on Friday.
“In particular, growing concern has been expressed to me about the use of foreign money to really overload the public consultation phase of regulatory hearings just for the purpose of slowing down the process. This is something that is not good for the Canadian economy, and the government of Canada will be taking a close look at how we can ensure that our regulatory processes are effective and deliver decisions in a reasonable amount of time.”
Bumped for update;
Unfortunately, there are environmental and other radical groups that would seek to block this opportunity to diversify our trade. Their goal is to stop any major project no matter what the cost to Canadian families in lost jobs and economic growth. No forestry. No mining. No oil. No gas. No more hydro-electric dams.
These groups threaten to hijack our regulatory system to achieve their radical ideological agenda. They seek to exploit any loophole they can find, stacking public hearings with bodies to ensure that delays kill good projects. They use funding from foreign special interest groups to undermine Canada’s national economic interest. They attract jet-setting celebrities with some of the largest personal carbon footprints in the world to lecture Canadians not to develop our natural resources. Finally, if all other avenues have failed, they will take a quintessential American approach: sue everyone and anyone to delay the project even further. They do this because they know it can work. It works because it helps them to achieve their ultimate objective: delay a project to the point it becomes economically unviable.
I get “page not found” for that link.
http://www.ethicaloil.org/news/canadians-being-hijacked-by-foreign-interests-pm-says/
rita- go to the link and click on “home”.
All will be revealed.
I applaud you Steven Harper. Good Luck PM u will need it.
Thanks Rita, link fixed.
Looks like the comment section at Ethical Oil got hijacked by eco-nitwits.
I think Harper is right that the existing system needs changes but he will probably take a PR hit since it always looks bad to change the rules in the middle of the game. He should do it anyway.
Every voice should be heard but there must be limits that prevent the current overwhelm-delay-blockade process. How about combining groups with similar issues and allow one presentation instead of 100? For example, give environmentalists 30 days to come up with a comprehensive report that details all of their concerns.
“I think Harper is right that the existing system needs changes but he will probably take a PR hit since it always looks bad to change the rules in the middle of the game. He should do it anyway.”
Really? I figure that his government has a duty to defend Canadian interests – vigorously. One of the “charitable foundations” funding this charade is The Rockafeller Foundation” (see Rethink Campiagns). John D.Rockafeller – founder of Standard Oil, now known as EXXON in the USA, or in Canada Imperial Oil (ESSO – or S.tandard O.il).
Looks like ole Maude Barlow has been co-opted by these guys and other US oil interests, coming out swinging against Canadian interests on exports off North America disguised as “green” issues, as she usually spouts anti-US rhetoric. Same with the Libs and Dips. I wonder which third party interests are donating to their electoral sucess and political/green lobbying?
A whole lot of ‘splainin’ needs to be had in this country and the Cons best get dealing with these faux Canadians.
Good on the gov. A lot of foreign money is being used to finance opposition to the oil sands.
What I am saying, AB, is that conservatives would be unhappy if the Libs or NDP did something similar. People rarely judge right or wrong objectively on the facts, they make judgments based on their biases. Also do not discount the Canadian MSM Effect – remember the big f’n deal about a possibly unconsumed communion wafer.
Yes let’s be careful in planning any legislation that will inhibit discussion, BUT, the outside interest of organizations is already doing this.
This is more than the Soros funded Tides Canada and the funding by the “loopy” Heir to Rubber Maid products, we avoid buying their products.
These outside funders include many Sovereign States and do I need to say oil companies.
Many, if not the majority, of the of the protest groups are similar to most people and are looking out for their own interests, as am I. However at this point in time my Leviathan is Canada and they owe me protection from other Leviathans.
Go forward Prime Minister Harper this is another battle to be one, another defence of the common good Canada remains focused on. Cheers;
It’s not just the EXXON money…to protect US BIG OIL from competition from ETHICAL OIL…it is also Saudi money as well… These enviros by extension are the allies of ALQAIDA…same funders…same goals……
Keep up the good work PM Harper.I used to be laughed at when I said it was middle east govts that were financing the anti oil sands retoric,not any more.
A good percentage of the enviro-NGOs obstructing the processes derive a significant amount of their income from Gov’t largesse.
Whether it’s the multi-millions they suck out of the public coffers in the form of grants, or the taxes they avoid by obtaining charity status, these enviro-parasites are nothing but corporate welfare bums.
If Harper really wants to cramp their style, all he has to do is turn off the money tap.
Yes I emailed Harper about foreign money being used to destroy the Canadian economy. I’m sure everybody here did too. Pass a nasty law outlawing foreign money being used for political purposes in Canada and send a Rockefeller or two to jail.
The cbc is running a story about the pipeline hearings.
In the first 2 hours ,they have posted over 500 comments. That is by far the fastest that I have ever seen their comments go up. It’s almost like they were written in advance and then put out to coincide with the story’s release. But for that to happen ,the cbc would have to be in cahoots with the enviromental groups to stop the pipeline,and /or embarrass the Harper gov’t.
OTOH,it could also be a concerted effort by the eco-freaks to bombard the comments without being helped by the cbc.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/01/09/pol-joe-oliver-radical-groups.
Sorry,the above link should be,
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/01/09/pol-joe-oliver-radical-groups.html
I’ve emailed Peter Kent once and Stephen Harper twice on this issue.
Please SDA readers, make sure you email Kent and Harper at least once.
Be polite. And firm.
Say NO to foreign lobbyists — especially the ones that hold billions in stock in trust and use it to undermine Canada’s economy.
“Unfortunately, there are environmental and other radical groups that would seek to block this opportunity to diversify our trade. Their goal is to stop any major project no matter what the cost to Canadian families in lost jobs and economic growth. No forestry. No mining. No oil. No gas. No more hydro-electric dams.”
Joe Oliver might want to start with the taxpayer-funded zealots in Environment Canada.
“But for that to happen ,the cbc would have to be in cahoots with the enviromental groups to stop the pipeline,and /or embarrass the Harper gov’t.”
How about this? CBC’s George Strombo sits on the Board of Directors of The Suzuki Foundation, sworn enemies of anything non-green and partially funded by Tides Canada and a lot of very non-critical thinking Canadians. They can type fast or they had it planned before. What do you think?
Follow the money and ties to people. Works every time.
Question for the Eco Kooks & Greenie Freaks . . .
“if we don’t generate wealth and the resulting tax revenues selling our resources, would you close Schools or Hospitals or a combination of both in order to make up the $Revenue shortfalls?
Most people who’ve had REAL jobs, understand any industry has some waste, pollution.
There is not a clean industry anywhere on the planet. Trace back thru any supply chain, you’ll find some undesireable (to some people)effect.
The alternative is living in a “clean” civilization, where you stay warm with furs, obtained from stabbed animals, or woven straw clothing. Free from antibiotics, manufactured distractions like computers, cameras, pens, pencils, paper, the list goes on FOREVER.
But doped up insulated utopian dreamers will never recognise that this is the price we pay for moving out of caves. Can’t get this through their foggy heads. It’s getting a bit tiresome.
PO’ed in AB ;
I think it is definitely an ‘astro-turf’ campaign. Is strombo involved? I don’t know,but that is very possible. It is unrealistic that on a Monday morning that there are so many’concerned’ people reading the cbc.
It just doesn’t happen. I’ve been folllowing that site for about 4 years.
On a lighter note,I posted a comment that says that if you were notified by e-mail from a ‘radical’group to comment here,give me a thumbs down. More than a few are confused by that post.
That update referred to the building of the CPR.
Just for a momment consider what would have happened if the current regulatory regime had been in place then?
The impact studies would have cited everything from modified watersheds, emmisions, the effect on aboriginals and, of course, Oh my heart be still, the effects of access to areas once too remote for imigration, resource exploitation and agriculture….don’t forget the damn buffalo.
About all of those Hewlett Packard laptops and other computers (Costco??) that showed up under the tree on the 25th of last month? – that Hewlett is allegedly the same Hewlett that donates HUUUUGGGEE amounts of money to the greenies on a regular basis.
Just sayin’.
The BBC was “indicted” via Climategate 2.0 emails to have had their program format perused and vetted on AGW issues by the proponents of that bad science, the CRU at East Anglia U. I believe that the BBC pension is fully involved with “green” industries, so draw your own conclusions.
Tell me that having George Strombo sitting on Suzuki’s Board of Directors isn’t a direct conflict of interest and a pipeline to what the CBC reports, or who they interview about this issue.
It’s getting too hot for even Suzuki himself to sit on his Board or have any public affiliation with his foundation, that he has removed himself altogether for fear that the Canada Revenue Agency will revoke it’s “charitable” status.
His second wife is still the head of the Suzuki Foundation, but we don’t hear her publicly expounding from her on things more “political”, while her freed up husband can now do so with impunity, legally that is. These guys are slick, eh? Keeps the old hippie in cash by doing so, though.
Better to ship to Orient, and quickly. They pay $10.00 a barrel more, that adds up to a lot of benefits. Should even keep Kabeck and Untario in spending money.
This is nothing short of war by an economic ass ult. Its the Governments duty to protect Canadians interests over foreign interference. Harper has Evey justification to halt this little disguised attack on this Nation & its economy.
War has become an economic battlefield.
The environmental interests are heavily funded by competing interests….primarily the Saudis.
A couple months ago, it was reported that the Saudis retained the law firm of NORTON ROSE (remember that name because it comes up again later) to send threatening letters to a number of Canadian media outlets, including CTV, that if they continue to air “Ethical Oil” advertising, they would be sued.
On September 22, 2011, the G&M reported a story which said in part “the UK Tar Sands Network demands that the “British government stop defending Canada’s criminal record on climate change.”
In the story which can be viewed here:
http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/keep-alberta-oil-off-your-hands-environmentalists-warn-british-pm/article2175933/?service=mobile
it said that “We would just like to say that David Cameron needs to look at how far he is sidling up to Canada in terms of pushing tar sands oil at a time when people in Europe and the UK are opposed to tar sands extraction,” Gemma Long, a campaigner with the group, said in a telephone interview from Britain.”
So the spokesperson campaigner is someone named Gemma Long……and Gemma Long just happens to be….wait for it…..a banking lawyer specializing in “energy, financial institutions and transport” with the same law firm, NORTON ROSE. You can check it out here for yourself.
http://www.nortonrose.com/people/50037/gemma-long
Environmental groups are not environmental groups at all…they are foreign government shills….pure and simple. ..
Some how due to this anti-Keystone foolishness an increase of $10/bbl would seem to be justified…whether Keystone gets built or not.
We have the black gold and should make the rules…….
The government should place a time limit on the review process. Listen to what they have to say. Then make a decision that’s best for Canada. Joe Oliver’s open letter indicates that the government knows what it’s doing in this case.
Wow, a PM with principles.
How long ahs it been since we’ve seen that? I’ve been holding my nose while voting since the beginning of the 80s, so PM Harper makes for a refreshing change – a leader who leads.
What Doc said @ 4:39.
Good for Oliver making that comment on streamlining the regulatory process. Hope they move fast to frustrate the Canadian sovereignty hijackers.
Well done Harper and Oliver. It’s good to know that more of us are waking up to the ticks of the left including our government leaders who are now willing to publicly address what the left are doing.
This is the sort of good government we get when the PM does not come from Quebec. What a refreshing change, at last.
LC, there’s not necessarily a PR hit here. First, the review of CEAA, the environmental assessment act, just started last year. Also, the Accountability Act is up for review. There could well be provisions in it requiring lobbyists to disclose funding sources.
Without changing the rules for Gateway’s hearings, it also sets up the government to reject panel recommendations if the Minister feels it’s been unduly influenced by foreign cash and lobby work. Remember, the panel only makes a recommendation; it’s always at the discretion of the Minister to let a project proceed or not.
There’s also a message here directed at the First Nations. Bluntly, it’s “Don’t think you can take millions from the federal coffers and then act as paid stooges for foreign environmentalist foundations in opposing federal policy.”
Scar, you don’t have to outlaw it. All you have to do is make charities disclose their funding through an audit the same as every corporation must do. Sheer disgust by the Canadian public will do the rest.
Wallyj, the latest thing in mass communications is a package set up by a marketing company. Individuals log into their website, and it cranks out nearly instantly one of several hundred messages which the user can personalize if he so chooses. When it comes to political spam, the green slime have always been ahead of the curve.
N60, the CEAA process does have time limits, very tight ones compared to the original Act in 1992. Nevertheless, it also has a requirement that all who wish to be heard must be heard.
Joey, no, they’re not foreign government shills. They’re much worse than that. Michael Crichton was really more accurate than most when he described it as a large international organization operating under many different names but with a common anti-development agenda.
Screw these foreign funded enviro nazis… I didn’t vote for them, and don’t know anyone who did… economic terrorism from foreign interests should be fought against, so i applaud the Government for taking a pro-active stance.
CEAA process does have time limits, very tight ones compared to the original Act in 1992. Nevertheless, it also has a requirement that all who wish to be heard must be heard.
In that case give each speaker 10 minutes max then cut them off. Also run the hearings for 16 hours a day, nonstop. Schedule the most objectionable speakers for the late night time slot.
CBC’s article on this will hit 2,000 comments soon.
The cbc had a link up earlier to a poll that showed that the BC people favoured the pipeline 48% to 32%. They have taken it down.
cgh
“Scar, you don’t have to outlaw it. All you have to do is make charities disclose their funding through an audit the same as every corporation must do. Sheer disgust by the Canadian public will do the rest.”
Then the first question asked of each group presenting is how much non-Canadian cash they received. Maybe someone can go to jail for perjury.
Anyone who posts messages to CBC knows that the leftist, Toronto-centric, censors pretty much only allow anti government messages to get posted, with the occasional pro-government message just to make it look ‘fair’ and ‘unbiased’. Complaining to CBC is futile, however sending letters to James Moore james.moore@parl.gc.ca the Minister in charge, might get more action. The government isn’t going to ‘can’ the CBC, but at least we might be able to make it become more objective.
I don’t generally favour foreign investment review laws.
I do however, strongly favour stringent limitations on foreign lobbying and foreign funding of Canadian NGOs. Here’s an idea: take one dime from a foreign entity: lose your charitable status (not that Suzuki should even have this status).
And, unrelated, I’d love to see an outright ban on foreign funding of religious entities — if you get my drift. A certain “religion” need not be named.
I say all this as a practical libertarian of advancing age.
I see CBCpravda went straight to their favourite source on this one , Dr. Mengele Fruitfly himself.
It’s always played to positive responses when the foreign money argument is used in a campaign.
These interests opposed are not Canadian, therefore their interest is what benefits them.
More importantly, if they felt that their concerns with the issue was honorable, why hide behind another group?
Bad faith withers in the light.
“They use funding from foreign special interest groups to undermine Canada’s national economic interest.”
You mean like the Chinese energy companies who are more than happy for Canadians to exploit our environment for their benefit?
Harper’s hypocrisy is becoming increasingly evident to the public. Looking forward to more of his arrogance….
iberia , I suppose you favour the toxic dumps in China to supply those nice rare earth minerals for building those subsidized solar panels.
mom down at the walmart again tonight?
Nice non sequitur, cal2…a bit early in the week to be hittin’ the bottle, isn’t it?
I thought the Keystone Hearings could be speeded up by having three seperate hearings.
1. Foreign Interests
2. Groups or individuals receiving funding from Foreign Interests.
3.Canadian Individuals or groups
But after reading cgh —-reject panel recommendations if the Minister feels it’s been unduly influenced by foreign cash and lobby work.
maybe we should let the hearing continue.
I also liked scar’s suggestion —first question asked of each group presenting is how much non-Canadian cash they received.
It looks like there are several options open for the government to make a decision that will benefit all Canadians not just the NIMBY’s.
I find it quite ironic that the people who oppose the pipeline the most are also those people who are supported most by taxpayer dollars. Where do they think the money comes from for all the benefits they enjoy at the taxpayer’s expense? I suppose the simple answer is that they don’t think.
“You mean like the Chinese energy companies who are more than happy for Canadians to exploit our environment for their benefit?”
Actually sport, it’s to do an end-run down the west coast to California as well. Besides, I presume China needs an alternate to Iranian oil, soon to be squeezed shut by the Iranians themselves.
Those Chinese energy companies paid hard cash for the assets they purchased here in Canada – “…to partake in the viable energy market in North America”, ie; make money selling NA oil to their own trading partner, the USA. It’s “business” to them and good business sense, too, something those commies know all about and our homegrown versions – don’t.