MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
September 11, 2009

Eastern premiers must take action on climate change, says Council of Canadians

Eastern Canadian premiers have received an open letter on climate change, energy trade and the regional economy from the Council of Canadians.

These issues will be the focus of the annual meeting between the premiers and New England governors starting this Sunday in Saint John.

The open letter urges the provincial leaders to work with the governors to establish a regional commitment to reduce carbon emissions by at least 25 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020. This achievable target is in line with what scientists say is the minimum requirement to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

“We want to see premiers discuss real solutions, not more 'business as usual' policies that have contributed to the urgent economic and climate crisis we now face,” says Andrea Harden-Donahue, energy campaigner with the Council of Canadians.

The letter also cautions premiers against adopting a regional energy vision that includes large energy project 'corridors' directed at export-oriented trade. These projects create negative local impacts and undermine energy security in Eastern Canada. They distract from real solutions such as significant efforts to achieve greater conservation and efficient use energy and locally based democratically accountable renewable energy projects.

Premiers were also urged to support local procurement policies. "The 'Buy American' controversy is an opportunity for Atlantic premiers and New England governors to talk about the urgent need to use government procurement to help local and regional economies," said Stuart Trew, trade campaigner with the Council of Canadians. "Provinces and cities should be encouraged to create jobs locally so that communities on both sides of the border can thrive and grow," adds Trew.

The Council of Canadians will also be holding its annual general meeting in Saint John in several weeks time.

“The issues that the premiers must discuss will be the focus of our annual general meeting. We will further explore an alternative vision for our economy, one that puts people, the environment and democracy first,” says Angela Giles, Atlantic regional organizer. 

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Please contact directly for comment:

Andrea Harden-Donahue, Energy Campaigner, (613) 233-4487, ext.240; Cell: (613) 218-5800
Stuart Trew, Trade Campaigner, Tel.: (416) 979-0451; Cell: (647) 222-9782
Angela Giles, Atlantic Regional Organizer, Tel.: (902) 422-7811; Cell: (902) 478-5727

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Turning the Tide: A just economy for people and the planet
The Council of Canadians’ 24th Annual General Meeting is being held at the Hilton Saint John (NB) on October 23-24, 2009. The focus of this year’s meeting will be on sharing alternative visions for our economic future -- ideas that focus not on market projections, cyclical recoveries and corporate profits, but on people, the environment and democracy.

Free Public Forum, Friday Oct. 23rd from 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., featuring keynote speakers:

Maude Barlow, Senior Advisor on Water to the President of the United Nations General Assembly and National Chairperson, The Council of Canadians

John Cavanagh, Director of the Institute for Policy Studies, Washington, DC, U.S.

Garry Leech, independent journalist, author and lecturer at Cape Breton University, Nova Scotia

Workshops and Panels, Saturday Oct. 24th. Registration starts at 9 a.m.

For more information, please go to our website at www.canadians.org/AGM.