The oil sands are one of Canada's most important strategic resources. We simply can't let them through our fingers. And they shouldn't simply be auctioned off to the highest bidder. When it comes to developing resources like the oil sands, we have to start thinking about the long-term best interests of Canadians in areas like jobs and the environment. If we relinquish decision making power to companies that are controlled by foreign governments, we won't have any say on those issues. The Harper government needs to wake up and stop letting ideology get in the way of what's best for Canadians.
The bottom line for us is that no deals like this should be approved until Canada has developed a national energy strategy that ensures that the interests of Canadians are looked after before the interests of big corporations or foreign governments. But not just any national energy strategy. A strategy has to be about more than pipelines and quicker approvals for projects. We need a national energy strategy that says upgrading and refining jobs should be kept here in Canada instead of being shipped down the pipeline; that says that our resources should be developed in the most environmental sustainable way possible; and which guarantees that energy needs of Canadians will be looked after before the energy needs of foreign countries.
The federal government has the power to turn down this deal and they should do just that, just like they did with the proposed foreign takeover of Saskatchewan's potash industry, if this takeover doesn't fit with a broader strategy of ensuring we get the maximum value out of our non-renewable resources.
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For more information:
Gil McGowan, President, Alberta Federation of Labour (780) 218-9888
TC:lmr*cope458 G:\Communications\NEWS\AFL\2012\2012-28-proposednexentakeover
Comments (1)By Canadian | October 01, 2012
China invaded Tibet, and has illegally occupied East Turkistan, the homeland of Uygurs for the last 63 years. China calls the Tibetans, "separartists" and the Uyghurs as "terrorists" alhtough they are actually freedom fighters. Their leader, president of the World Uyghur Congress was a nominee of the Nobe Prize for Peace. China has no repsect for our Citizenship laws. A Canaidan, Huseyin Celil, was transported illegally across borders into China, where he was sentenced to life on false charges. He was not allowed Canadian consul, and was torured to sign a confession. He lives in solitary ocnfinement. (Uyghur Canadian Society) We only need to refer to David Gilgour and David Matas' book, "Bloody Harvest" to cringe at the revelations that Falun Gong practitioners in China are arrested withour warrant, taken into detention where their organs are removed for sale. (Chen Zhenping at Amensty International Canada). Organ harvesting is big business in China.
When CNPC bought into Sudan's oil fields on 1996, Beijing immediatley supported Sudan's Omar al-Bahsir. He was issued an arrest warrant in 2009 by the International Crimianal Court from the Haque for war crimes and crimes against humaity, and China covered up the abuses before the UN. China has been comlicit in the genocide in South Sudan and Dafour. In Zambia, Chinese mining corporations forbid union acitivities. There were two incidences where charges of attempted murder related to opening fire on local employees protesting work conditions, occurred. China in Africa was accused of refusing to hire local workers for resource companies. And more recently, we are aware that China presents as an obstacle for securing some sense of cease fire or resolution in Syria, where thousands are dying in confict. Do we, as Candians and Albertans wish to partner with the CCP?
"All that it takes for evil to prevail is for good peole do nothing." - Edmund Blake.
We as Alberta and Canadians need to stand up, speak up to prevent Nexen to be purchased by CCP. The writing is on the wall. What message do we wish to send China, and other countries who are watching our every move? Silence is interpreted as agreement with the abusive conduct of China, so there will be more of it. Do we wish to walk side by side with a brutal regime which commits crimes against humanity? Or do we wish to object and protest to the human rights violations that are occuring this minute? Do we wish to have trade agreements with China? Do we wish China to buy more shares into Canadian coporations? Do we have a message to send Premier Redford who adventured to China to discuss trade agreements, and was photgraphed shaking hands with the devil?
We owe it to our childen how we wish our country and province to unfold for future generations.
We owe it to ourselves to defend those who do not have a vocie to speak.
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