Alberta's Tar Sands Lobbyist: We're Just One 'Devastating Lac-Mégantic Experience' Away from Keyston

[unhappycamper]

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/09/18/albertas-tar-sands-lobbyist-were-just-one-devastating-lac-megantic-experience-away



New envoy to Washington hopes to convince Obama it's "in the best interest of America to approve Keystone"

Alberta's Tar Sands Lobbyist: We're Just One 'Devastating Lac-Mégantic Experience' Away from Keystone Approval
Deirdre Fulton, staff writer
Thursday, September 18, 2014

The Alberta tar sands have a new man in Washington.

Alberta MP Rob Merrifield announced on Wednesday he was resigning his seat in parliament to serve as Alberta’s envoy to D.C., where he will focus on gaining approval for the Keystone XL pipeline, among other issues. The appointment is an effort by Alberta Premier Jim Prentice "to get Alberta's resources to key markets," CBCNews reported.

In an interview with the Globe and Mail, Merrifield—who already has extensive contacts in D.C. from his previous role as a representative in Washington for Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government—revealed what he thinks is required to sway American support toward Keystone approval:

~snip~

The Lac-Mégantic disaster to which Merrifield referred occurred in July, 2013 when an unattended 74-car freight train carrying Bakken formation crude oil ran away and derailed, resulting in the fire and explosion of multiple tank cars. The derailment killed 47 people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=UNR7XxhF7W0