December 5, 2024
Alberta panel studying foreign funding of environmentalists is necessary
Foreign climate philanthropists, fossil fuel companies, tech companies, unions and governments should not be using their money to influence voters.
Foreign climate philanthropists, fossil fuel companies, tech companies, unions and governments should not be using their money to influence voters.

The Alberta government announced this past week a $2.5-million panel to study the influence of foreign funding on Canadian environmental policy issues. Compared to the unprecedented planned spend of $4 billion by 29 U.S.-based philanthropic institutions over the next five years on climate philanthropy, this is a drop in the bucket.

Already, the critics are criticizing Alberta’s panel as a waste of money with unclear goals in mind. This doesn’t hold up. It is about time Alberta put together an analysis on foreign funding so that it may develop appropriate policies to protect its own interests as owners of a valuable resource. Perhaps the panel might also dispel some notions that are currently in vogue.

While much press has been paid to Vivian Krause’s detailed look at foreign funding of environmental groups in Canada, the panel should also pay attention to philanthropic political influence in general.

Compared to total climate spending, U.S. foundations spend less than one per cent of the US$410 billion expenditure on climate-related activities (climate-related technologies for businesses and governments, university research, advocacy and developing economy grants are by far larger). Charities, however, can have an outsized influence on political debates over climate change, both on the left and right side of politics. Bloomberg Philanthropies, for example, funded an event involving well-known international donors at the One Planet Summit in December 2017 that highlighted the importance of foundations in their primary role as advocates of climate-change actions alongside governments and NGOs.

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See Also:

(1) ‘Climategate Was Fake News,’ Lies the BBC…

(2) The ‘fraud of the century’ finally reaches the end of the line after clogging up our court system for 7 years

(3) Former Aussie deputy PM becomes backbencher, suddenly tells the truth about global warming

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BTDT
BTDT
July 13, 2019 8:12 am

Why is an Alberta government panel being tasked to ‘study’ the influence of foreign funding on Canadian environmental policy issues? Foreigners are obstructing the growth of our economy in very significant way. At least if you believe that a $50M per day loss to our economy is an significant issue. It should be considered an economic catastrophe. And all because we can’t get out oil to international markets. There is ample evidence already that foreigners are (assisted by domestic allies) obstructing the growth of our economy in a major damaging way. Remember that one word, ‘obstructing’. This is a very serious issue. Is it unreasonable to suggest that foreign entities are sabotaging our economy? Our National Police Force assisted by CSIS should be doing an criminal investigation. That includes (and this is only one tactic) infiltrating these radical groups to gather intelligence and criminal evidence. I have no hesitation in saying that it would be virtually guaranteed that what would be uncovered would shock Canadians. Something else, if you think political corruption, bought and paid for dirty politicians are American only…

Sabotage deliberately destroy, damage, or obstruct (something), especially for political or military advantage.

The wilful obstruction of our country’s economy is IMO a national security issue. National security is part of the RCMP’s mandate. It is they, not some toothless civilian panel who needs to be tasked with getting in there and finding out what is going on. The last thing many people, politicians included would want to see happen.