Cross misconstrues facts
Sonia Furstenau’s campaign manager, Luke Cross, offers no clear clarification in his letter of March 11, of the questions asked, instead relying on yet more conjecture and platitudes. I have concerns about several items there but especially concerning is his misconstruing of the facts in the references he chose to use.
It is unfortunate to see Mark Carney’s words skewed to satisfy a bias. Mr. Carney has been speaking for years, as we are now, about the implications of the climate-change initiatives upon the financial sector. He has emphasized temperance and the importance of ensuring that the financial system is resilient enough to adjust and responsibly finance any long-term transition. To say he has “likened climate crises to a financial crisis” is sensationalism, misleading, and out of context.
The other skewed reference is in regard to the company, Blackrock Inc, which like many investment groups has expanded its offering of sustainable investment choices to clients. However, it is important to note that Blackrock specifically stops short of integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) screens, and climate change in particular, across the bulk of its products.
Regarding the LNG Canada project, Mr. Cross fails to mention the guaranteed revenue stream over forty years that will benefit B.C.’s economy. The injection of approximately a half billion dollars per year and the corresponding jobs are a positive step, especially in economically stimulating and diversifying northern B.C. — just ask the residents of northern B.C.! People want and need jobs to feed their families and these are high paying jobs with benefits, not to mention the spin-off community businesses that will follow. Furthermore, the sale of the product will enable China to convert their current coal-fired power plants to natural gas, a much cleaner source.
Diane Moen
Duncan