Celebrating small successes
May 22, 2020
Tracey Saxby
District of Squamish council votes to ratify the motion not to support a five-year extension of the Environmental Assessment Certificate for Woodfibre LNG unless they can meet IPCC climate targets. Councillors Eric Andersen, John French, and Doug Race voted in opposition.
WE DID IT!
In a 4-3 vote, the District of Squamish ratified the resolution on Tuesday stating that:
"...the District of Squamish does not support an extension of the Environmental Certificate for Woodfibre LNG unless the extension includes a condition that Woodfibre LNG must meet the IPCC targets for its operation within the District of Squamish to reduce its GHG emissions by 45% by 2030 and 100% by 2050."
Woot woot!
READ THE SQUAMISH CHIEF ARTICLE
Watching council meetings is like edge-of-your-seat reality TV. Seriously.
WATCH THE MAY 19th COUNCIL MEETING HERE (see Item 9Biv)
Woodfibre LNG has downplayed the significance of this vote, but they are clearly nervous. Not only have they been bombarding us all with ads, they also set up a template letter-writing campaign over the weekend, and asked the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and Resource Works to rally their supporters to overwhelm council with letters of opposition to this motion.
But we won! Our supporters sent in over a hundred personalized letters of support, thanking council for bringing this motion forward, and council ratified the motion. Big sigh of relief!
Thank you so much to everyone that sent a letter of support! I want you to know how critical that was for the final vote.
Say thank you! Send an email to: council@squamish.ca
We don't say thank you enough, and it's important to support council when they make the right choice. Please take a moment to say thank you to council for their leadership in highlighting the climate impacts of Woodfibre LNG. Be kind and respectful. Keep it short and sweet. You can address it to:
Dear Mayor and Council, ...
*********
This decision sends a clear message to the province that every individual, every business, and every industry needs to do their part to ensure we achieve the climate targets identified by the 2018 IPCC report.
We have a lot more work to do, but please celebrate this minor victory with us!
Tracey
Executive Director, My Sea to Sky
My Sea to Sky is incredibly proud and grateful to say that we rely on the My Sea to Sky community for small donations that provide the majority of our funding. Since our launch in 2014, we have been funded through personal savings, family and friends; and powered by the passion of our volunteers. Your generous contribution will help us to run our critical campaigns to defend, protect, and restore Howe Sound. Every dollar helps.