For Immediate Release
February 9, 2009

Canadians and Americans Say, Put the Environment and People First
Binational poll shows strong opposition to use of NAFTA’s Chapter 11

OTTAWA / February 9, 2009 - U.S. President Barack Obama should press ahead with plans to renegotiate NAFTA when he meets with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper later this month to discuss binational energy and environmental policies, concludes the Council of Canadians, which has commissioned a new binational poll of Canadians and Americans on NAFTA and Canada-U.S. energy policy.

The poll, conducted by Environics, found that over 70 per cent of Americans and Canadians believe energy corporations should not be allowed to sue governments (which current, controversial provisions of Chapter 11 of NAFTA allow) for changes in government policy that protect the environment or otherwise promote the public interest.

The poll also found that an overwhelming 9 out of 10 Canadians believe the Harper government should pursue a comprehensive strategy to create more green jobs in renewable energy and improved energy efficiency. This means Obama is more in tune with Canadians’ green priorities than Harper. Obama has shown strong support for renewable energy, a strategy sorely lacking from the recent Canadian federal budget.

 “There is remarkable agreement between Canadians and Americans on the need to promote the public interest and constrain the power of energy corporations. And there is overwhelming consensus among Canadians on the desire to promote renewable energy,” says Maude Barlow, Chair of the Council of Canadians. “Unfortunately, the Canadian government and Big Oil refuse to change NAFTA, which leaves energy and environmental security a victim of the whims of the market.”

“Americans and Canadians want a green energy future and agree that the time to start is now,” says Susan Casey-Lefkowitz, senior attorney at the U.S.-based Natural Resources Defense Council. “There are clean technologies ready for roll-out at this moment, so we are seeing no patience for environmentally destructive fuels like tar sands oil. We have to hold energy companies to a higher level of accountability.”

“NAFTA is a dangerous barrier to effective government policies addressing climate change and diminishing energy resources. Over half of the complaints under NAFTA’s chapter 11 have directly challenged environmental policies,” says Andrea Harden-Donahue, Energy Campaigner with the Council of Canadians. “This is a problem that is only going to get worse and more costly as both governments try to come to terms with the growing environmental and economic crises. This has a tremendous impact on any discussions in Canada or between Canada and the U.S. towards adopting an effective climate change policy.”

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For more information or to arrange an interview contact: Dylan Penner, Council of Canadians, 613 795-8685

 

BINATIONAL POLL RESULTS

Environics Research Group was commissioned by the Council of Canadians to conduct a poll on attitudes towards energy policy and the North American Free Trade Agreement. Between January 22 and February 1, 2009, 1,000 Canadians and 1,000 American respondents were interviewed, resulting in a margin of error of +/-3.09 per cent 19 times out of 20 for each country polled.

1.       The following question was asked of Americans and Canadians:

Chapter 11 of the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, allows corporations to sue member governments for compensation anytime they feel that government policies, such as environmental policies, might reduce their profits.

DO YOU STRONGLY SUPPORT, SOMEWHAT SUPPORT, SOMEWHAT OPPOSE OR STRONGLY OPPOSE ENERGY COMPANIES BEING ABLE TO SUE NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS FOR LOST PROFITS AS A RESULT OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES?

RESULTS:
United States: SUPPORT 26% OPPOSE 71% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED 3%
Canada: SUPPORT 23%  OPPOSE 72%  DON’T KNOW/REFUSED 5%

2.       The following question was asked of Canadians only:

Addressing climate change will likely involve more energy conservation and efficiency, as well as transitioning to renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and tidal power.

DO YOU STRONGLY SUPPORT, SOMEWHAT SUPPORT, SOMEWHAT OPPOSE OR STRONGLY OPPOSE THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT DEVELOPING A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY TO CREATE MORE "GREEN JOBS" THROUGH IMPROVED ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THE EXPANSION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES?

RESULTS:
SUPPORT 93%  OPPOSE 5% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED 2%