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South Okanagan MP pleas for energy workers

Plea for energy workers

South Okanagan-West Kootenay MP Richard Cannings has co-authoured a letter urging the federal government to work on a stimulus plan to benefit energy sector workers facing job loss in light of COVID-19 and a drop in oil and gas prices. 

Cannings and NDP MP for Edmonton-Strathcona Heather McPherson penned the letter together to Minister for Natural Resources Seamus O'Reagan. It urges the minister to adopt a plan that will "ensure programming and funding support go directly to benefit energy sector workers and not as subsidies to shareholders or CEO bonuses."

“In this moment of potential collapse, we need to stand with energy sector workers. These decisions will benefit all Canadians," Cannings said. 

“Subsidies and tax cuts directed to the oil and gas sector by the Alberta Government in 2019 did nothing for Alberta workers and their families. Instead, those who benefitted directly were wealthy corporations and their shareholders, most of whom are not Canadian."

Cannings was encouraged that the government is considering funding to employ oil patch workers in the clean up of orphaned oil wells, adding, “this is an initiative that the NDP has been calling on for years.  Energy conservation and retrofitting, support for infrastructure development including transit, and grants to support research, development, and technology transfer will all help to ensure a more diverse economy in Alberta and across the country.”

He said in a new release that he was happy that the House of Commons passed emergency legislation Wednesday morning allotting $82 billion to help Canadians through the COVID-19 crisis. 

"We are encouraged to see the government reflect and adjust their support to directly support workers. We will keep up the pressure to see this continue across future announcements.”



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