Three strikes against the tar sands

Last week in the Métro newspaper, environmentalist Steven Guilbeault reported on three pieces of good news in the fight against the tar sands.

1. It was announced that the European Union's proposed Fuel Quality Directive, a policy that would see oil from the tar sands assigned a higher (i.e., dirtier) carbon intensity value, will proceed to a vote in June. If this directive passes, it will serve as a disincentive to using tar sands oil.
2. Lee Brain, son of an oil man, spoke out publicly against the Northern Gateway project, a proposed pipeline that would transport tar sands crude intended for the Chinese market across a 1000 km stretch encompassing hundreds of lakes, rivers and streams in Alberta and British Columbia. 
3. Last year, we went before the Court of Quebec to oppose Enbridge's bid to revive its "Trailbreaker" pipeline reversal project, which would bring tar sands crude through Quebec, threatening our farmland, air quality, and efforts to reduce oil dependency. Last week, we learned that we were successful: Enbridge has lost its appeal, and must now establish to the province's farmland protection commission that farmland in Dunham is the only viable location for a controversial new pumping station. 

To read Steven's column (in French only)