Harper Must Start Building Low-Carbon Economy and Stop Embarrassing Canada

COPENHAGEN, 15 Dec 2009 – The Conservative government should be positioning Canada to prosper in a new low-carbon economy, rather than avoiding responsibility for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, says Ken Neumann, United Steelworkers National Director for Canada.

"It's time for the Harper government to stop embarrassing Canada with its desperate schemes to promote exploitation of the Alberta oil sands. It’s time to start investing in the technologies of the future that can reduce greenhouse emissions and create new manufacturing jobs in green energy,” Neumann said today.

Documents reported by CBC News suggest Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government is considering allowing carbon emissions at even higher levels than anyone had imagined, at a time when global leaders are trying to reach agreement in Copenhagen to fight climate change.

The United Steelworkers has a delegation in Copenhagen as part of Blue Green Canada – an alliance of the USW and Environmental Defence – to observe the negotiations and campaign for a strong international agreement that will result in good green jobs for Canadians.

For more information, visit www.bluegreencanada.ca.

Contact: Bob Gallagher, United Steelworkers, 416-544-5966 / 416-434-2221 /
bgallagher@usw.ca.