Former minister, environmentalists unite against budget bill

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Environmental groups, First Nations leaders and a former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister are speaking out as the federal government moves to pass its massive omnibus budget bill.

Former Fisheries Minister John Fraser joined environmentalist David Suzuki, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip and several other environmental leaders on the edge of False Creek this morning to voice their concerns about Bill C-38, Ottawa’s omnibus budget bill.

The bill proposes to revamp the approval process for large energy projects, limiting the number, duration and scope of environmental reviews on projects like the Northern Gateway pipeline that would take Alberta oil to the BC coast.

“Silence is not an option,” says Fraser, referring to MPs on all sides of the House as they prepare to vote on the 400-plus-page bill.  “And anyone who thinks that just because they’re in one party or another or the government party, hasn’t got the right in Canada to say what they think, is not doing his or her duty.”

He adds that he supports some of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s policies, but is worried about proposed changes to the Fisheries Act being lumped into a budget law, and he’s challenging anyone who is concerned about the bill to call their MP. Fraser says he’s challenging anyone who is concerned about the bill to call their MP.
    
“Some people don’t think process matters, but process does matter,” he stresses.  “I don’t know how many people who complain about politicians never phone their own Member of Parliament and never force that member of Parliament to come and sit with some of them so that they can say what they think.”

“Private members have got to speak up,” adds Fraser.  “But they won’t speak up unless the public gets behind them and individuals are brought to meetings with them so that you can say exactly what you think, and also demand that they come back and tell you what they’ve done.”

Organizers say at least 500 businesses and organizations and thousands of Canadians are supporting their Black Out Speak Out campaign against Bill C-38 by blackening their websites in protest.

“We have a variety of groups [with us],” says Jim Boothroyd with the David Suzuki Foundation.  “Obviously for commercial reasons, a lot of business groups are not terribly comfortable about joining as full partners.”

Foundation CEO Peter Robinson says MPs intend to pass Bill C-38 before the summer recess, so time is of the essence.

“I think it’s utter nonsense that we’re going to see a debate on environmental issues and other issues at a finance committee, where nobody in that finance committee has any knowledge of the components that are in this bill,” says Robinson.

Bill C-38 also includes changes to employment insurance.

Meanwhile, ten cabinet ministers are selling the perceived benefits of the bill across the country today, arguing the revamped environmental review will create jobs without hurting the environment.