FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2008

Regina gathers to inquire about a Tar Sands future in Saskatchewan

Regina – In response to the government sale of new exploration permits for Tar Sands in Saskatchewan, the Regina chapter of the Council of Canadians held a public meeting outside of the Legislature yesterday, inviting people to learn more about the controversy that stands to affect the province economically, environmentally and socially.

“Alberta is the example for Saskatchewan to learn from. The Klein government did not have a plan with the development of Tar Sands in his province, he just kept letting them expand and expand,” explains Jim Elliott, Chair of the Regina chapter of the Council of Canadians. “The consequences of the unregulated growth of the Tar Sands in Alberta have been devastating for the economy, the environment, and the health of downstream communities in Alberta and yet the Sask Party seems to be following the path of the Alberta Conservatives, refusing even to ensure a full environmental assessment on exploration procedures.”

“Tar Sands have been linked to increased cancers and auto-immune illnesses, toxic tailings lakes, water pollution and depletion, and massive greenhouse gas emissions,” explains Sue Deranger, member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation who now resides in Regina. “These are concerning factors for the people of Saskatchewan who want to see a healthy and viable future for themselves and their children. Given the amazing renewable energy sources available in our prairie province, our government should be seeking a more sustainable vision for our energy economy that respects the rights and health of communities.”

“The children and youth living in this province will not see any short-term benefits of developing Saskatchewan's Tar Sands, but we will have to face the long-term costs of increased health problems, pollution and not least of all, the full ramifications of climate change,” remarks Larissa Shasko student of the University of Regina and Palliser Green Party Candidate. “We need to ensure that our government is held accountable for the future it wants to create so that Saskatchewan develops into a place people where people want to settle down and live– not just a place to take the money and run.”

The Council of Canadians agrees with the call put out by the Saskatchewan Environmental Society that a moratorium should be placed on all new Tar Sands exploration permits in the province, until a full and public discussion is held about the impact oil sand development will have on the province.  The group decided that since the Tar Sands don’t respect the provincial boundaries, concerned Saskatchewan citizens must disregard the Alberta/Saskatchewan border in order to join forces with concerned citizens already suffering the consequences from Tar Sands development in Alberta. 

The Council of Canadians hopes this meeting will be the first of many coalition activities to help inform and engage people on the future of energy development within the province and the possibilities that are available for just and sustainable energy future. Council of Canadians has five volunteer chapters across the province. Contact information for their chapters can be found at www.canadians.org

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For more information contact

Jim Elliot at caar@accesscomm.ca or (306) 352-4804
Larissa Shasko at larissa.shasko@gmail.com home (306) 692-7925 or mobile (306) 684-3463