Federal natural resources minister Joe Oliver says radical environmental groups and jet setting celebrities are trying to block the growth of Canada’s energy exports.
He made the comments in an open letter today, saying Canada faces the choice of diversifying markets away from the U.S. or continuing with the status quo.
He says environmental groups are hijacking the regulatory system to try and kill projects with long delays; he adds that the system needs to be improved to prevent that.
The NDP says Oliver’s comments will make the independence of the National Energy Board impossible, while Oliver replied that he wasn’t specifically talking about the NEB’s Northern Gateway hearings.
