Climate Convergence Metro Vancouver Statement on Day of Throne Speech
September 23, 2020
We are living in extraordinary times. Not only has a global pandemic caused immeasurable disruption to all of our lives - in recent weeks a string of wildfires have scorched the west coast of North America and choked the skies with dark smoke. We have been quite literally surrounded by the ongoing global climate crisis.
Cancelling the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion (TMX) would be a decisive step forward in the right direction. We demand the Trudeau government include this in the Throne Speech, and that opposition parties make this a prerequisite for their vote of confidence in the government. Anything less would be a continuation of the “business as usual” politics which got us into this mess in the first place. TMX is the litmus test we can’t afford governments and political parties to keep failing.
As challenging as 2020 has so far been, it has reminded us of the power of collective action to respond to catastrophes and assist those most in need. The climate justice movement has been reinvigorating the fight for the greener, brighter, better world that we recognize as not only achievable, but essential for humanity’s survival and collective welfare.
The 19 billion dollars in taxpayer dollars wasted on buying and building the TMX pipeline would be much better spent in helping the poor and working people most impacted by the government of Canada’s disastrous response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Throughout the pandemic and the public health and safety measures, Climate Convergence has focused on safe, socially distanced organizing. The Holmes Creek Protection Camp has successfully blocked the first attempt at TMX construction in the Lower Mainland outside of the Burnaby Tank Farm gates, and the Students Against TMX Cross Canada Initiative has joined groups across Canada representing over 180,000 post-secondary students to also demand an end to the project.
By no means should our respect for public health protocols in avoiding mass gatherings be mistaken for a slackening of our commitment to this struggle and opposition to destructive agendas - especially the TMX pipeline expansion. The empty promises and hollow proclamations which have defined the Liberal Trudeau government will not be tolerated. A throne speech without its cancellation is a signal to us to re-double our efforts to find safe and effective ways to stop the project. We will fight as if our lives depend on it, because they do.
Stop the Trans Mountain Expansion Pipeline Now!
Climate Convergence Metro Vancouver
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