Michael ByersVancouver Centre NDP candidate Michael Byers wants to “shut the tar sands down” in an effort to protect the environment, a comment that contradicts his party’s official policy.

Byers made the remark at an all-party debate at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Graduate School of Journalism earlier today.

The comment was made in answer to what seemed like a fairly harmless question. “If you were an animal, what kind of animal would you be?” asked student journalist Amanda Ash. Byers said he would be a polar bear. He went on to link his response to global warming and ended his answer by calling for an end to tar sands development.

Byers, a political science professor at UBC, has made similar statements in an academic setting, but this is the first time he’s said something like this as an NDP candidate.

The comment is in opposition to the NDP’s official policy, which calls for a moratorium on development in the tar sands until a cap on greenhouse gas emissions is put in place.

When pressed on the issue, Byers clarified his comment suggesting that the government should not give tax breaks to tar sands producers. Such a policy would make tar sands development uneconomic, according to Byers.

“I believe that the tar sands would phase themselves out if we actually reduce the massive government subventions of those processes.”

High world oil prices have been a strong contributor to the profitability of tar sands projects and it is unclear how much of a tax increase would be required to drive tar sands producers out of business.

His opponents were quick to point out his reversal. “He tends to get into rhetoric and get himself into trouble and I think he’s very clever trying to get himself out,” Liberal incumbent Hedy Fry said of Byers.

“I don’t think you’re going to get many votes in Alberta with that,” said Conservative Lorne Mayencourt. “Right now, we kind of need [the tar sands].”

The tar sands attract a huge amount of investment in Alberta and contribute to the province’s royalty revenues. They are also a major source of economic activity for Canada’s resource-based economy.

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Comments (1)

• 2008-10-20 12:17:48 |99.235.165.xxx| Murray Kline  - “We have to shut the tar sands down!” says Vancouv

  Whatta prick!!

  Kick the ass hole out of Canada!!!

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