The radical and the conservative: An open letter from Minister Joe Oliver

Canada’s natural resources minister Joe Oliver delivered an open letter to Canadians on Monday, January 9th, taking aim at environmental groups that object to major oilsands projects such as the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline and the Keystone XL pipeline. The minister claims that radical environmental groups are seeking to destroy Canada’s economy by thoughtlessly condemning any and all natural resource development projects, and argues that Canadian environmental groups are heavily funded by American interests and backed by ‘jet-setting celebrities.’

Environmentalist David Suzuki responded to Oliver’s reference to a radical environmental movement by saying “Environmentalists want to 'live within our means,' 'save some for tomorrow,' think about the 'legacy we leave for our children.' That strikes me as a pretty conservative approach.”

Oliver’s letter highlights the simple dichotomy that is often erroneously drawn between economy and environment. The development of sustainable, renewable sources of energy will most certainly drive forward economic development and innovation in Canada. Communities across the country, such as T’Sou-ke First Nation and the City of Revelstoke, are already building a competitive advantage in renewable energy – one that simultaneously addresses both economic and environmental imperatives. Claiming that all objections to major natural resource development projects are radical and without merit may stymie the honest and thoughtful debate that is crucial to a vibrant civil society.