Regina City Council was put under pressure by the fossil fuel industry to change a proposed climate initiative, according to a report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Nearly a year after Big Oil squared off with Regina’s city council over a proposed amendment to ban fossil fuel companies from sponsoring city buildings or events, a new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives uncovers the playbook used to kill the motion.
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LeBlanc explained that the rationale for his amendment was to get the city’s policies around advertising dollars in line with council’s efforts to create a 100-per-cent sustainable city by 2050.
“I brought this amendment to pursue this policy,” said LeBlanc. “Inaction (on climate change) is the biggest gamble we can take.” Coun. Daniel LeBlanc (Ward 6) says he brought forward the amendment with the express intent to better align civic policy with it’s goal to become a 100-per-cent sustainable city by 2050, but after feedback from the public realized there was not support for the amendment at this time. Photo by BRANDON HARDER /Regina Leader-Post
REGINA On Wednesday, Regina City Council will hear from more than 20 delegations regarding a motion put forward at last week’s Executive Committee meeting, proposing energy companies be banned from sponsorship and naming rights of city buildings and events. The motion was brought forward by Ward 6 Councillor Daniel LeBlanc, who has since posted on Facebook saying he plans to withdraw the motion at Wednesday’s meeting after receiving an outpouring of feedback from the public. LeBlanc said the motion was “too much too soon.” The motion received mixed reaction, including strong words from Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe. Delegations scheduled to speak in Wednesday’s meeting include a representative from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, the Saskatchewan Winter Games, Keystone Group of Companies and the Regina & District Chamber of Commerce.