Mike De Souza
“Canada enlists Big Oil to help kill U.S green policies”
Postmedia News
28 November 2010
Canadian diplomats in Washington have quietly asked oil industry players such as Exxon Mobil and BP to help “kill” U.S. global warming policies in order to ensure that “the oil keeps a-flowing” from Alberta into the U.S. marketplace, Postmedia News has learned.
In a series of newly-released emails from Canada’s Washington embassy, the Canadian diplomats described recommendations from Environment Canada to clean up the oilsands as “simply nutty,” proposing instead to “kill any interpretation” of U.S. energy legislation that would apply to the industry.
“We hope that we can find a solution to ensure that the oil keeps a-flowing,” wrote Jason Tolland, from the Canadian Embassy in an exchange of emails with government trade lawyers on Feb. 8, 2008.
The correspondence, released to the Pembina Institute, an environmental research group, that obtained it through access-to-information legislation, comes as the international community gathers in Cancun, Mexico, for the annual United Nations summit on global warming.
The new documents also follow revelations by Postmedia News last week that the Harper government had crafted a multi-department communications strategy with industry stakeholders and the Alberta government to attack foreign environmental policies and promote the oilsands.
“We hope that we can find a solution to ensure that the oil keeps a-flowing.”
Clare Demerse, the associate director of climate change at the Pembina Institute, said the government should remember that it works for Canadians, not the oil companies.
“A responsible government would see clean energy policies outside our borders as an opportunity to do better, not as a threat,” said Demerse.
“Reading through these documents, I’m struck that no one at Foreign Affairs ever acknowledges that cutting greenhouse-gas pollution could be a good thing. Instead, the officials dismiss U.S. efforts to clean up the fuel they buy as ‘protectionism.’”
The messages from diplomats were sent as the oilsands industry was lobbying against Section 526 of the U.S. Energy Independence and Security Act, which could restrict U.S. government departments and agencies from buying fuel with a high environmental footprint.
“The US government – read administration – is looking to us to provide support for their work to kill any interpretation of this section that would apply to Canadian oil sands,” wrote Tolland. “That is the purpose of this.”
The correspondence reveals that the Canadian diplomats had contacted officials from the American Petroleum Institute – an industry association – as well as from Exxon Mobil Corp., BP, Chevron Corp., ConocoPhillips, Encana Corp., and Marathon Oil Corp. “to point out the potential implication to their imports from Canada.”
One email sent by Paul Connors, who at the time was an energy counsellor at the embassy, encouraged an official with Exxon Mobil to get involved in the political debate against the legislation.
One email sent by Paul Connors, who at the time was an energy counsellor at the embassy, encouraged an official with Exxon Mobil to get involved in the political debate against the legislation.
“I would encourage your firm to make its views known to DOE (U.S. Department of Energy) and the Hill (politicians),” wrote Connors to Susan E. Carter from Exxon Mobil on Jan. 22, 2008. “I would be most grateful for your company’s views on the issue.”
According to Article 41 of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations, visiting diplomats in a receiving state “have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State.”
In a separate email, Connors also rejected a recommendation from Helen Ryan, a senior Environment Canada official responsible for oil, gas and alternative energy, that the Canadian government needed to convey, in a letter from the ambassador, the importance of putting “more pressure” on the oilsands industry to invest in technology to clean up their pollution.
“If intended for the letter, (this point) is simply nutty,” wrote Connors on Feb. 19, 2008.
On Feb. 22, 2008, Michael Wilson, Canada’s ambassador at the time in Washington, sent a letter to several members of former U.S. president George W. Bush’s cabinet, urging the American government to protect the oilsands from the new energy legislation.
Mike De Souza
“Canada enlists Big Oil asked firms to
help kill U.S S. green
policies policies: Diplomats sought solution to ensure
that ‘the oil keeps a-flowing,’ according to
documents”
Postmedia News
Ottawa Citizen
28
29
November 2010
A1
Canadian diplomats in Washington have quietly asked oil
oil-industry players such as Exxon
Mobil ExxonMobil and BP to help “kill” U.S. global
global-warming policies in order to ensure that “the
oil keeps a-flowing” from Alberta into the U.S. marketplace, Postmedia
News has learned.
In a series of newly- newly released
emails correspondence from Canada’s Washington
embassy, the Canadian diplomats described describe
recommendations from Environment Canada to clean up the oilsands as
“simply nutty,” proposing instead to “kill any interpretation” of U.S.
energy legislation that would apply to the industry.
“We hope that we can find a solution to ensure that the oil keeps
a-flowing,” wrote Jason Tolland, from the Canadian Embassy in an
exchange of emails e-mails with government trade
lawyers on Feb. 8, 2008.
The correspondence, released to the Pembina Institute, an
environmental research group, that obtained it through
access-to-information legislation, comes as the international community
gathers in Cancun, Mexico, Cancun for the annual
United Nations summit on global warming.
The new documents also follow revelations by Postmedia
News last week that the Harper government had crafted a
multi-department communications strategy with industry
stakeholders and the Alberta government to attack foreign environmental
policies and promote the oilsands.
“We hope that we can find a solution to ensure that the oil
keeps a-flowing.”
Clare Demerse, the associate director of climate change at
the Pembina Institute, said the government should remember that it works
for Canadians, not the oil companies. firms.
“A responsible government would see clean energy policies outside our borders as an opportunity to do better, not as a threat,” said Clare Demerse.
“Reading through these documents, I’m struck that no one at Foreign Affairs ever acknowledges that cutting greenhouse-gas pollution could be a good thing. Instead, the officials dismiss U.S. efforts to clean up the fuel they buy as ‘protectionism.’”
The messages from diplomats were sent as the oilsands industry was lobbying against Section 526 of the U.S. Energy Independence and Security Act, which could restrict U.S. government departments and agencies from buying fuel with a high environmental footprint.
“The US U.S. government – read administration –
is looking to us to provide support for their work to kill any
interpretation of this section that would apply to Canadian oil sands,”
wrote Tolland. “That is the purpose of this.”
The correspondence reveals that the Canadian diplomats had contacted officials from the American Petroleum Institute – an industry association – as well as from Exxon Mobil Corp., BP, Chevron Corp., ConocoPhillips, Encana Corp., and Marathon Oil Corp. “to point out the potential implication to their imports from Canada.”
One email e-mail sent by Paul Connors, who at
the time was an energy counsellor at the embassy, encouraged an official
with Exxon Mobil to get involved in the political debate against the
legislation.
One email sent by Paul Connors, who at the time was an energy
counsellor at the embassy, encouraged an official with Exxon Mobil to
get involved in the political debate against the legislation.
“I would encourage your firm to make its views known to DOE (U.S. Department of Energy) and the Hill (politicians),” wrote Connors to Susan E. Carter from Exxon Mobil on Jan. 22, 2008. “I would be most grateful for your company’s views on the issue.”
According to Article 41 of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations, visiting diplomats in a receiving state “have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State.”
In a separate email, e-mail, Connors also
rejected a recommendation from Helen Ryan, a senior Environment Canada
official responsible for oil, gas and alternative energy, that the
Canadian government needed to convey, in a letter from the ambassador,
the importance of putting “more pressure” on the oilsands industry to
invest in technology to clean up their pollution.
“If intended for the letter, (this point) is simply nutty,” wrote Connors on Feb. 19, 2008.
On Feb. 22, 2008, Michael Wilson,
When asked if the tactics used by the Canadian diplomats were accepted
practices, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
defended the oilsands industry and said that meetings with
decision-makers, those who influence them and stakeholders on Canadian
priorities are a regular aspect of
Canada’s ambassador at engagement abroad.
“Canada does not consider oil from oil sands to be an alternative fuel,” wrote Laura Markle in an e-mail.
“ Oil sands production is commercial and, like other oil, is
processed in conventional facilities. The government will continue
the time in Washington, sent promotion of a
letter strategic resource that will contribute to
several members of former U.S. president George W. Bush’s cabinet,
urging energy security for Canada, North America and the
American government world for decades to
protect the oilsands from the new energy
legislation. come.”
Mike De de Souza
“Canada enlists Big Oil to help kill U.S green
policies protect oilsands, e-mails show”
Postmedia News
Edmonton Journal
28
29
November 2010
A12
Canadian diplomats in Washington have quietly asked oil
oil-industry players such as Exxon
Mobil ExxonMobil and BP to help “kill” U.S. global
global-warming policies in order to ensure
that “the oil keeps a-flowing” from Alberta into the U.S. marketplace,
Postmedia News has learned.
In a series of newly- newly released
emails correspondence from Canada’s Washington
embassy, the Canadian diplomats described describe
recommendations from Environment Canada to clean up the oilsands as
“simply nutty,” proposing instead to “kill any interpretation” of U.S.
energy legislation that would apply to the industry.
“We hope that we can find a solution to ensure that the oil keeps
a-flowing,” wrote Jason Tolland, from the Canadian Embassy in an
exchange of emails e-mails with government trade
lawyers on Feb. 8, 2008.
The correspondence, correspondence was released
to the Pembina Institute, an environmental research group, that
obtained it through via access-to-information
legislation, comes as the international community gathers in
Cancun, Mexico, for the annual United Nations summit on global
warming.
The new documents also follow revelations by Postmedia News last week
that the Harper government had crafted a multi-department communications
strategy with industry stakeholders and the Alberta government to attack
foreign environmental policies and promote the oilsands.
“We hope that we can find a solution to ensure that the oil
keeps a-flowing.” legislation.
Clare Demerse, the associate director of climate change at the Pembina Institute, said the government should remember that it works for Canadians, not the oil companies.
“A responsible government would see clean energy policies outside our borders as an opportunity to do better, not as a threat,” said Demerse.
“Reading through these documents, I’m struck that no one at
Foreign Affairs ever acknowledges that cutting greenhouse-gas pollution
could be a good thing. Instead, the officials dismiss U.S. efforts to
clean up the fuel they buy as ‘protectionism.’”
The messages from diplomats were sent as the oilsands industry was
lobbying against Section 526 of the U.S. Energy Independence and
Security Act, which could restrict U.S. government departments and
agencies from buying fuel with a high environmental footprint.
“The US government – read administration – is looking to us to provide
support for their work to kill any interpretation of this section that
would apply to Canadian oil sands,” wrote Tolland. “That is the purpose
of this.”
The correspondence reveals that the Canadian diplomats had contacted
officials from the American Petroleum Institute – an industry
association – as well as from Exxon Mobil Corp., BP, Chevron Corp.,
ConocoPhillips, Encana Corp., and Marathon Oil Corp. “to point out the
potential implication to their imports from Canada.”
One email sent by Paul Connors, who at the time was an energy counsellor
at the embassy, encouraged an official with Exxon Mobil to get involved
in the political debate against the legislation.
One email sent by Paul Connors, who at the time was an energy
counsellor at the embassy, encouraged an official with Exxon Mobil to
get involved in the political debate against the legislation.
“I would encourage your firm to make its views known to DOE (U.S.
Department of Energy) and the Hill (politicians),” wrote Connors to
Susan E. Carter from Exxon Mobil on Jan. 22, 2008. “I would be most
grateful for your company’s views on the issue.”
According to Article 41 of the Vienna convention on diplomatic
relations, visiting diplomats in a receiving state “have a duty not to
interfere in the internal affairs of that State.”
In a separate email, Connors also rejected a recommendation from Helen
Ryan, a senior Environment Canada official responsible for oil, gas and
alternative energy, that the Canadian government needed to convey, in a
letter from the ambassador, the importance of putting “more pressure” on
the oilsands industry to invest in technology to clean up their
pollution.
“If intended for the letter, (this point) is simply nutty,” wrote
Connors on Feb. 19, 2008.
On Feb. 22, 2008, Michael Wilson, Canada’s ambassador at the time in
Washington, sent a letter to several members of former U.S. president
George W. Bush’s cabinet, urging the American government to protect the
oilsands from the new energy legislation.
Mike De Souza
“Canada enlists Big Oil aims to
help ‘kill’ U.S S. green
policies policies; E-mails reveal push to keep Alberta
oil flowing”
Postmedia News
Calgary Herald
28
29
November 2010
A4
Canadian diplomats in Washington have quietly asked oil
oil-industry players such as Exxon
Mobil ExxonMobil and BP to help “kill” U.S. global
global-warming policies in order to ensure
that “the oil keeps a-flowing” from Alberta into the U.S. marketplace,
Postmedia News has learned.
In a series of newly- newly released
emails correspondence from Canada’s Washington
embassy, the Canadian diplomats described describe
recommendations from Environment Canada to clean up the oilsands as
“simply nutty,” proposing instead to “kill any interpretation” of U.S.
energy legislation that would apply to the industry.
“We hope that we can find a solution to ensure that the oil keeps
a-flowing,” wrote Jason Tolland, from the Canadian Embassy in an
exchange of emails e-mails with government trade
lawyers on Feb. 8, 2008.
The correspondence, released to the Pembina Institute, an environmental research group, that obtained it through access-to-information legislation, comes as the international community gathers in Cancun, Mexico, for the annual United Nations summit on global warming.
The new documents also follow revelations by Postmedia News last week that the Harper government had crafted a multi-department communications strategy with industry stakeholders and the Alberta government to attack foreign environmental policies and promote the oilsands.
“We hope that we can find a solution to ensure that the oil
keeps a-flowing.”
Clare Demerse, the associate director of climate change at the Pembina Institute, said the government should remember that it works for Canadians, not the oil companies.
“A responsible government would see clean energy policies outside our
borders as an opportunity to do better, not as a threat,” said
Demerse. Demerse said.
“Reading through these documents, I’m struck that no one at Foreign
Affairs ever acknowledges that cutting
greenhouse- greenhouse gas pollution could be a
good thing. Instead, the officials dismiss U.S. efforts to clean up the
fuel they buy as ‘protectionism.’”
The messages from diplomats were sent as the oilsands industry was lobbying against Section 526 of the U.S. Energy Independence and Security Act, which could restrict U.S. government departments and agencies from buying fuel with a high environmental footprint.
“The US U.S. government – read administration –
is looking to us to provide support for their work to kill any
interpretation of this section that would apply to Canadian oil
sands, oilsands,” wrote Tolland. Tolland
wrote. “That is the purpose of this.”
The correspondence reveals that the Canadian diplomats had contacted
officials from the American Petroleum Institute – an industry
association – as well as from Exxon
Exxon-Mobil Corp., BP, Chevron Corp., ConocoPhillips,
Encana Corp., and Marathon Oil Corp. “to point out the potential
implication to their imports from Canada.”
One email sent by Paul Connors, who at the time was an energy counsellor
at the embassy, encouraged an official with Exxon Mobil to get involved
in the political debate against the legislation.
One email sent by Paul Connors, who at the time was an energy
counsellor at the embassy, encouraged an official with Exxon Mobil to
get involved in the political debate against the legislation.
“I would encourage your firm to make its views known to DOE (U.S.
Department of Energy) and the Hill (politicians),” wrote Connors to
Susan E. Carter from Exxon Mobil on Jan. 22, 2008. “I would be most
grateful for your company’s views on the issue.”
According to Article 41 of the Vienna convention on diplomatic
relations, visiting diplomats in a receiving state “have a
duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State.”
In a separate email, Connors also rejected a recommendation from Helen
Ryan, a senior Environment Canada official responsible for oil, gas and
alternative energy, that the Canadian government needed to convey, in a
letter from the ambassador, the importance of putting “more pressure” on
the oilsands industry to invest in technology to clean up their
pollution.
“If intended for the letter, (this point) is simply nutty,” wrote
Connors on Feb. 19, 2008.
On Feb. 22, 2008, Michael Wilson, Canada’s ambassador at the time in
Washington, sent a letter to several members of former U.S. president
George W. Bush’s cabinet, urging the American government to protect the
oilsands from the new energy legislation.