Jim Hoggan Op-Ed in Vancouver Sun: Who Gets A Say In Our Democracy?

Brendan DeMelle DeSmog
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Jim Hoggan, DeSmogBlog co-founder and president, has an op-ed in the Vancouver Sun today discussing the โ€œethical oilโ€ crowd’s attacks on democracy in the Enbridge Northern Gateway public hearings. Head over to the Vancouver Sun to read it: โ€œWho gets a say in our democracy?โ€

Here is an excerpt from theย ending:

If [Joe Oliver or Stephen Harper] is concerned that over the years the California-based William and Flora Hewlett Foundation has given $1.3 million to the Pem-bina Foundation for Environmental Research and Education, then they should be even more troubled that, during the same period, the Hewletts gave $40 million to the government’s own International Development Research Centre. Apparently, Oliver’s โ€œradicalsโ€ fuelled by โ€œforeign special interestsโ€ are as close as the nearestย mirror.

If Enbridge or its political boosters wants to pipe unrefined Canadian bitumen directly to the most treacherous waters in the north Pacific – and then, by supertanker, into the hands of the Chinese – they should make their case. Attacking the rights of others to have input is a dodge unworthy of a democracy as advanced and robust asย ours.

Read more at the Vancouver Sun.

Image credit: 1971yes | Shutterstock

Brendan DeMelle DeSmog
Brendan is Executive Director of DeSmog. He is also a freelance writer and researcher specializing in media, politics, climate change and energy. His work has appeared in Vanity Fair, The Huffington Post, Grist, The Washington Times and other outlets.

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