Dear Prime Minister,

I strongly support the Canadian government's opposition to drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. But we can no longer be passive. The Canadian government must take action.

Right now, the U.S. Congress is considering legislation that will allow the destruction of this critically sensitive ecosystem by permitting drilling there. I urge you and the appropriate senior ministers to make Canada's position on this matter absolutely clear to your U.S. counterparts.

Further, please instruct Canada's Ambassador to the United States to meet immediately with the key members of Congress whose votes are critical to defeating resolutions to drill in the refuge.

Please, Prime Minister, take action on this matter. There is no time to lose.

I would appreciate a response to my letter indicating what specific actions you plan to undertake to save the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Putting a global treasure at risk

Oil drilling will undoubtedly have a tremendous negative impact on the wildlife that live and migrate to the Refuge. Approximately 130,000 Porcupine Caribou arrive every spring to give birth to 40,000 calves, and drilling poses a very real threat to their reproductive cycle. The Refuge is also essential to polar bears, musk oxen, wolves, grizzly bears and millions of birds that nest and raise young there every summer.

Oil drilling would quickly disturb this delicate ecosystem to the point where it could no longer be used by caribou and other wildlife.

Do the ends justify the means?

Drilling in the Refuge is not a quick fix to the United States’ energy issues. It will take 10-30 years to get oil flowing from the Refuge. Even then, it will only make up 3% of U.S. oil consumption, which would supply total U.S. demand for less than a year.