Reckless Conservative environmental approach putting Canadian families at risk

The Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD) is warning that continued Conservative failure to ensure that environmental protection keeps pace with resource extraction will endanger Canada’s economy.

“The NDP has long warned the Conservatives that recklessly rushing to exploit Canada’s resources without proper land and water protection legislation comes with serious environmental and economic costs. It’s just as irresponsible as having a house with no insurance,” said NDP Environment critic Megan Leslie (Halifax). “While the Conservatives continue their short-sighted gutting of environmental laws, it will be Canadian families who pay the price in economic and health costs if anything goes wrong.”

The Commissioner also outlined significant concerns about the lack of transparency, low inspection rates for major resource extraction projects in the North and the continued expansion of offshore resource projects without similar progress in establishing protected marine areas. This is Vaughan’s last report before he leaves for a job outside government.

“The Conservative mantra of ‘extract first and deal with the consequences later’ is simply unacceptable,” said deputy Environment critic, Anne Minh-Thu Quach (Beauharnois – Salaberry). “It’s irresponsible. Canada is facing a liability cliff and the Conservatives are pushing us closer and closer to the edge.”