“There was a point in time over the summer where workers had to stop working because it was too hot, there was a point in the summer where multiple sites couldn’t be worked on because they were on fire … entire sections of the pipeline under construction have been buried in landslides,” he said.
He called it “emblematic” of Canada’s approach to the climate crisis.
The federal government is saying “we’re doing everything to tackle [the crisis],” but the pipeline “is literally being buried by climate impacts,” he said.
“I think that really raises the question of if we’re not going to reconsider this in this moment, why not?”
In a statement, NDP environment critic Laurel Collins said the party’s priority at the moment is pushing the federal government to do everything it can to support those impacted by flooding, but “it’s clear” natural disasters will become more common and severe as the climate crisis worsens.
“The Liberal government has to take immediate action to assist the people of B.C., but they also need bolder action to address the long-term realities of the climate crisis,” she said.
“Instead of spending billions of dollars on a pipeline and giving fossil fuel subsidies to big oil companies, the Trudeau government should be investing in emergency preparedness measures and climate-resistant infrastructure.”
Natural Resources Canada did not return a request for comment.
Read the entire article at the source (Canada’s National Observer.)
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