MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release
January 18, 2012

Keystone XL flops, Council of Canadians available for comment

The Council of Canadians, reacting to the rejection today of the Keystone XL pipeline by the Obama Administration, had the following comments.

Andrea Harden-Donahue, energy and climate justice campaigner, Council of Canadians:

“Grandparents, youth, farmers, Indigenous peoples, scientists, collectively rejected Keystone XL and their voices were heard. We are honoured to have worked in solidarity with people on both sides of the border opposing the pipeline. We will continue to work with the many varied voices opposing the Enbridge Gateway pipeline, another tar sands export pipeline that will be stopped. I hope the Harper government sees this decision as an opportunity to question their unyielding support for tar sands export infrastructure. While the federal government appears intent on rubber-stamping the Enbridge Gateway pipeline, today’s rejection of Keystone XL – the direct result of mass opposition – should make it clear that final consent rests with public opinion.”

Maude Barlow, national chairperson, Council of Canadians:

“Today's decision by the Obama administration is a step in the right direction and should put the Harper government on notice. A powerful movement has succeeded in demonstrating widespread opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline and the expansion of the tar sands. We want to see a just transition to a sustainable energy future for North America and we hope that today’s decision brings us one big step closer to that future. We are committed to ongoing vigilance to make sure this project does not proceed in any form at any time. Our task now is to prevent the other attempts to expand tar sands export infrastructure – be it an alternative Keystone XL route, the Northern Gateway, or other pipelines. We will stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities vowing to block the export routes to slow the Northern Gateway project while we seek alternative energy sources.”

–30–

For more information or to arrange interviews:

Dylan Penner, Media Officer, Council of Canadians, 613-795-8685, dpenner@canadians.org
Twitter: @CouncilofCDNS