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Indigenous leaders met with bankers
Yukon First Nation leaders met with bankers in Toronto last month to try to persuade them not to invest in energy development on the range of a vital caribou herd.
TORONTO – Yukon First Nation leaders met with bankers in Toronto last month to try to persuade them not to invest in energy development on the range of a vital caribou herd.
The United States government is about to sell exploration leases on the calving grounds of the Porcupine caribou herd, which crosses the border into Canada from Alaska.
Gwich’in in Yukon and Alaska have long fought repeated attempts at oil exploration that would affect the herd, which they say is crucial to their way of life.
The Yukon group met with representatives of RBC, Scotiabank, TD Canada Trust and CIBC.
Research from an environmental group indicates all four have investments in Arctic energy development.
TD Canada Trust is the largest investor, at about $400 million.
On Dec. 16, the major U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs announced it would not invest in Arctic energy exploration.
Several other international banks have made similar announcements.
THE CANADIAN PRESS
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Comments (2)
Up 5 Down 7
Matthew on Jan 6, 2020 at 5:47 pm
Let's be honest for a moment please.. free and clean energy is around, most patents owned by oil companies though..
Up 15 Down 8
jc on Jan 6, 2020 at 5:10 pm
I have no problem with energy development and mining in the Arctic. They do it in the south, west and east, why not the North. For the sake of a few caribou and bears it is ridiculous. Animals will adapt. That has been proven many times in the past. The oil, gas and minerals are not going to sour or rust if left in the grounds. Let's take it out, then turn it into a national park. How many people will go up there to see it? Nada. Just like today.