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Groups buoyed after meeting U.S. House Speaker Pelosi to talk oilsands
News Articles | The Canadian Press | September 09, 2010
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OTTAWA _ A powerful American politician continued making the rounds in Canada´s capital Thursday as she met with environmental groups and First Nations to talk about the oilsands.
The groups told U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and congressman Ed Markey that the United States can use its buying power to demand cleaner oil.
“I think they understood very clearly what we were saying, that the customer is always right,” said Rick Smith, head of Environmental Defence.
“And in this case, the customer can demand better. And so they were very receptive to that message.”
Pelosi is the third-ranking politician in the U.S., and Markey chairs an important energy committee and co-authored an environmental bill working its way through the U.S. Senate. They are in Ottawa meeting key players in the energy and environmental sectors.
The meetings with environmentalists and First Nations follow a Wednesday night dinner at the U.S. Embassy for Pelosi, Environment Minister Jim Prentice and the premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec.
Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach said the emphasis was on the environment Wednesday during his “open and candid” discussion with Pelosi.
“It was acknowledged that the development of the oilsands has its challenges,” Stelmach said in a statement released Wednesday night.
“I impressed upon her that Alberta is taking the necessary steps to balance energy security with environmental responsibility and economic growth.”
Pelosi, who has often voted against oil interests, spoke in equally positive tones about the meeting.
In a statement, she said the talk “confirmed that the United States and Canada share a strong commitment to addressing climate change and energy security.”
“We share much more than a border, and with respect to our energy future, we are in the same boat,” Pelosi said.
On Friday, Pelosi is scheduled to attend the G8 Speakers´ Conference hosted by House of Commons Speaker Peter Milliken.
Tagged with: first nations, pelosi-markey, ottawa, talks
