OTTAWA, Jan. 18, 2012 /CNW/ - "U.S. President Barrack Obama's reported decision to deny a permit for the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline is the right decision for Canada," says Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada President Dave Coles.
"This is an opportunity for stakeholders - including the oil industry, governments, environmentalists, First Nations groups and labour unions -- to come together and create a sustainable energy policy."
"We need a policy based on economic stability, job creation, environmental sustainability, and energy security for Canada.
"Hopefully Prime Minister Harper will take a page from President Obama's book, put the name-calling behind us, and move forward."
CEP is Canada's largest energy workers' union and a long-time opponent of the pipeline construction project, appearing before the National Energy Board, on Parliament Hill and at rallies in Canada and the U.S.
CEP opposed the Keystone XL pipeline project due to the potential loss of tens of thousands of jobs in the Canadian oil upgrading and refining sector that either exist now, or that would have been created by projects that are likely to be cancelled as a result of the dramatic expansion of oil export pipeline capacity to upgraders and refineries in the U.S.
The 135,000-member CEP is Canada's largest union of energy workers, with about 35,000 members who work in the oil, gas and petro-chemical industries.
Dave Coles at 613 299-5628
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