Canadians must push for ‘energy democracy’ amid U.S. threats, says climate activist [video]

The grassroots advocacy group Maritimes Against Climate Change held a march and rally in Moncton on March 15 drawing attention to the urgent need for climate action. 

Sylvain Comeau, a lead organizer with the group, told the NB Media Co-op that Canada has a lot of work to do to address the issue independently — especially in the shadow of an increasingly aggressive U.S. government under Donald Trump. 

Watch the full interview:

He noted that Trump is not only threatening to annex Canada, but also slashing crucial parts of the American government. “It really shows that they are an example of what not to do as a country,” Comeau said in an interview on Thursday. 

He highlighted the current instability in the U.S. political system as something Canada should seek to avoid. He called for “energy democracy,” with a focus on renewable sources, such as wind and solar. 

Reduced dependence on oil and gas exports would benefit Canada, he said. “Why are we digging up the oil to give it to [the United States]?” he asked. 

Amid threats of annexation, some Canadians have called for a loosening of restrictions to allow for the oil and gas and mining sectors to further exploit natural resources, and a push for partnerships with European countries. 

But this resource nationalism appears to be in direct conflict with Canada’s stated aim of reconciliation with Indigenous nations and climate goals that Canadian officials continually tout.

“We are on the unceded lands of those people and we really need to focus on what we can do to make up for those atrocities that we did in the past, but also to find a better future for everyone,” Comeau said. “Continuing to pollute the planet with fossil fuels — it really goes against what they’ve been talking about for so many years.”

While the government of interim Prime Minister Mark Carney has stated that it could maintain a cap on emissions from oil and gas — which does not mean a cap on production — four of Canada’s biggest banks recently withdrew from a UN climate initiative which sought to pool funding for energy transition projects.

With private sector and oligarchic interests apparently keen to abandon climate action, Comeau said that citizens must pressure governments at all levels to honour their climate commitments.

“It really does show that [the private sector] is sadly unreliable, and that we have to always step up and continue to pressure not just politicians, but also corporations.” 

Comeau said Canadians can use the current moment to push for greater independence from the U.S., reduce their carbon footprint and establish a balanced relationship with nature.

“We cannot put petty politics above this existential threat,” he told the crowd outside Moncton City Hall during the rally.

Ryan Hillier is a writer and settler living on the banks of the Petkootkweăk. NB Media Co-op staff reporter David Gordon Koch contributed production and editorial support. This reporting has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada, administered by the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS).