NDP REALITY CHECK: Justin Trudeau and the Oil Lobby

As Canadians continue to call for a more sustainable energy policy and respect for the environment, it’s disconcerting to see the extent to which the oil lobby has penetrated into Justin Trudeau’s inner circle.

Of course, there were already concerns raised when it was revealed that his Chief of Staff, Cyrus Reporter, had been a leading lobbyist representing oil companies in the past – including BP Energy Canada, Nexen and Syncrude. (Source: Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada registry).

Now, TransCanada – the company behind the Cacouna Oil Port project – is seeking the services of Dan Gagnier, co-chair and strategic advisor for the Liberal Party’s election campaign and one of Justin Trudeau’s trusted advisors.

How can Mr. Trudeau claim to have middle class families’ best interests at heart when he surrounds himself with advisors who are leading defenders of oil companies’ interests?

Canadians deserve better. They deserve a Prime Minister who – like Tom Mulcair when he was Minister for the Environment in Quebec – was not afraid to stick by his principles and stand up to powerful interests on behalf of regular citizens.