Tell your MP to speak out against Big Oil bailouts

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Published on Wednesday, 08 April 2020 05:04

Written by editor

Friends,

Big Oil is already moving at breathtaking speed to take advantage of the coronavirus pandemic. On Monday, fossil fuel executives published an open letter from some of Canada’s richest fossil fuel CEO’s demanding a bailout from the federal government.1 Even in the midst of a global health pandemic, with unprecedented numbers of people filing for emergency financial assistance, these 14 men, worth millions of dollars, had the nerve to ask for a public money bailout.

We can’t let this happen. We need our government to support people, not fill the pockets of big polluters. That means bailouts and public money need to go where they’re needed most: our underfunded hospitals and schools. We should never handout public moneg to wealthy oil executives fuelling the climate crisis -- but especially not now.

To do that, we need your help. Can you take a minute to send a message to your MP asking them to oppose a multi-billion dollar bailout for Big Oil?

After this letter was published, I was outraged to see that Jason Kenney tweeted that it was a “must read” from “oil and... gas workers.”

Let’s be clear, it’s a letter from CEOs, not workers. And, it’s demanding a bailout for corporations. It does not help the people who need it most, like oil and gas workers, and families all across Canada impacted first and worst by COVID-19.

That’s why we need our MPs to speak out against the shameful bailout for Big Oil. We have made it easy to send a message to your MP with this one click tool.

It’s clear that Big Oil isn’t waiting for social distancing to lift to keep pushing their dangerous agenda forward. We know TC Energy is taking advantage of the pandemic to bulldoze ahead with the Coastal GasLink pipeline on unsurrended Wet’suwet’en territory, and Keystone XL through Indigenous territories south of the border.2

But, if anything is clear right now, it’s that people acting together can get a lot done. That’s why, right now, we need your help to stop this bailout.

In rage and solidarity,

Jennifer

PS - Earlier this week a climate-charged, category 5 cyclone has devastated a small Pacific Island nation of Vanautu. It’s a clear reminder of why tackling the climate crisis, and reigning in the power of the fossil fuel industry is so important, even while we grapple with COVID-19. Read the statement from our friends at 350 Pacific here.

References:

1 – Global: "Oil and gas industry CEOs pen open letter to Ottawa asking for financial help"

2 - Bill McKibben: "Big Oil is using the coronavirus pandemic to push through the Keystone XL pipeline"

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