‘Mayor Lisa’ is in Wood Buffalo touring the oilsands.
Mayor Lisa Helps of Victoria, B.C., accepted the invitation from Calgary city councillor Ward Sutherland last February.
The idea of the tour came after mayor and council in Victoria considered filing a class action suit against Canada’s oil and gas industry.
Concerns arose from a report on climate change from an inter-governmental panel urging Canada “significantly reduce carbon pollution” by 2030.
Furthermore, industry took another hit thanks to the federal government’s recent ban on oil and gas work in marine protected areas.
Nevertheless, Mayor Helps hopes this visit will answer questions she and others have about one of the most sustainable industries in the world.
“I’m generally a curious person, and I’m generally a person who has an open mind.” Said Mayor Lisa, “I think on a complex issue like this one it’s really important to gain as many prospectives as possible.”
