Statement from Climate Action Network Canada on Environment and Climate Change Minister Wilkinson’s Decision to conduct a Federal Impact Assessment of the Vista Coal Mine Expansion Project

Statement from Climate Action Network Canada on Environment and Climate Change Minister Wilkinson’s Decision to conduct a Federal Impact Assessment of the Vista Coal Mine Expansion Project

Unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe Territories [OTTAWA], 30 July 2020 – Teika Newton of Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat Canada applauds Minister Wilksinson’s decision to designate the Vista Coal Mine Expansion for a federal assessment in light of its potential adverse impacts to areas under federal jurisdiction and to Aboriginal and Treaty rights, a welcome shift from his December 2019 determination.  

Canada’s domestic and international leadership on phasing-out coal power would be severely undermined by continuing to supply overseas markets with the dirtiest fossil fuel. The Vista expansion must be closely scrutinized, and its climate effects carefully taken into consideration throughout the federal assessment process, as is to be expected under the newly released Strategic Assessment of Climate Change (part of the Impact Assessment Act). 

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