The Young Liberals of Canada in B.C. are calling on Liberal Party members to support a proposed policy for a national energy strategy at a party policy conference next week in Surrey.
Justin Kaiser, president of the Young Liberals of Canada in B.C., has decried the Stephen Harper government’s approach to energy.
“Harper’s sole focus on exporting raw oil resources poses serious risks to B.C.’s north coast, including tens of thousands of tourism jobs, while shipping thousands of potential refining jobs overseas,” he said.
“Young Liberals in this province believe we need a national approach to sustainable energy development and significant new federal investment in sustainable energy innovation.”
The Young Liberals’ proposed policy calls for expanded domestic oil refining capacity, arguing that this will create new Canadian jobs and reduce the risks of transporting raw bitumen to B.C.
Michael McDonald, University of Victoria Young Liberal president, said the country needs a made-in-Canada approach to energy that creates jobs, supports sustainable energy sources and protects the coast from environmental harm.
“It’s time we had a national energy strategy and a government that isn’t dragging its heels on climate change,” he said.
