Remember the guy from the CBC Marketplace on Friday, Dr. Rick Smith? He heads up one of the most important environmental lobbying groups, Environmental Defence. One of their latest campaigns is to garner the support of people against the tar sands in Environment Minister Peter Kent’s riding of Thornhill, Ontario in a massive public awareness campaign.

Kent has done nothing but wax poetic about the sustainable awesomeness of the tar sands since he stepped into the top Environment job late last year. He defended his latest views with this salvo that would lead the world to think that the tar sands produce the dirtiest oil in the world with no pollution at all: “Of course, the oilsands are one of many of our great natural resources,” he said. “(The industry) is done in a responsible manner, a sustainable manner and I believe they will help us create Canada as a great superpower, absolutely.”

Environmental Defence has decided that enough is enough and is making sure that people in Kent’s home riding are educated on the truth about the tar sands. This coming week, they plan on calling over 50,000 households in the tony suburb of Thornhill north of Toronto to offer educational resources and make sure that Kent’s constituents aren’t falling for the tar sands rebranding campaign.

The group plans on remaining on the ground in Thornhill for at least a few months to ensure that public education exists where it matters most, in the minister’s backyard.

Tags: environmental defence, environmental defense, tar sands campaign

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