Hundreds, if not thousands, of Canadians are going to be gathering in Victoria, B.C. over the next few days to take a stand against the Northern Gateway Pipeline that Enbridge, and our current federal government, is intent on building through the pristine Great Bear Rainforest to the northern B.C. coast. One of my daughters is planning to attend, but like many Canadians I will be supporting this event at a distance. What I can do from my home today is participate in a “flash phone mob” organized by Citizens Climate Lobby Canada. The goal is to fill Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s answering machine with messages about reducing taxpayer subsidies to the richest industry on the planet, in this time of fiscal restraint. I invite you to join me. Here’s the suggested message, but feel free to improvise; just keep it polite – we are Canadians, after all:
SUGGESTED SCRIPT (please use your polite Canadian voice)
Hello My Name is [ __________________ ]
The government of Canada introduced a second omnibus budget bill this week. If lawmakers in Ottawa are looking for ways to reduce spending, it seems that subsidies to the oil, coal and gas industries are the best place to start.
I believe that Canada should stop giving a $1.4 billion annual bonus to rich fossil fuel companies that are recklessly polluting our land, air and water(1) .
By doing so, Canada will meet its 2009 commitment made in Pittsburgh, along with other G20 leaders, to phase out subsidies to fossil fuel companies (2) .
The richest industry on Earth doesn’t need our tax dollars. Instead, Canada should invest responsibly in clean energy sources that create good jobs and sustainable prosperity.
I call on all Members of Parliament to support the motion drafted by the youth-led movement PowerShift to end to subsidies and tax incentives fossil fuel companies.
Specifically, I would like to know how much of the tax incentives and subsidies to the fossil fuel companies were cut in Omnibus Budget Bill C38 and will be cut in the latest omnibus budget bill.
Please send the information to [ your mailing address].
Thank you for your time and service to Canada.
********
Minister Flaherty’s contact info is:
Parliament Hill Office – Ottawa: Telephone: (613) 992-6344
Have fun! And feel free to comment below if you do call, and let me know.
I just hope it works.
We who are committed to creating a sustainable future are in this for the long haul. There’s no guarantee one event will make the change, it’s about wearing down the machine of the fossil fuel economy, bit by bit, person by person, event by event. And, as David Suzuki said recently, being willing to put our bodies on the line if need be.