G7 leaders’ summit puts Canada on spot, calling for low emissions in energy sector — June 9

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was forced to make environmental concessions at this week’s G7 meeting in Bavaria, but Canadians know very well that he doesn’t mean any of it.

Actions speak louder than words.

The Harper government gutted the Fisheries and Streams Act to suit oil pipelines, promotes pipeline location in environmentally sensitive areas, and requires no commitment from oil companies to meet world carbon reduction standards.

The oilsands represent the third largest known oil reserve in the world. We all know that recovery of fossil fuels in Alberta will continue for many years, so why not do some long-term planning to reduce the carbon footprint of the recovery process and put Canada again on the side of the planet?

There are many safe nuclear reactor designs available. The oilsands should use one of them to produce the energy needed for steam production and thus reduce carbon emissions.

Then production could be increased and we would still be under our emission limits while looking forward to the eventual elimination of fossil fuel use.

Donald A. Fraser

Waterloo