The Right Honourable Jean Chretien
Prime Minister of Canada
The Honourable Paul Martin
Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada
I am very concerned about the serious threat posed by oil development to the calving grounds of the transboundary Porcupine Caribou Herd in the Arctic Refuge.
I have followed the trek of two Canadians who accompanied the migration of the herd from Old Crow, Yukon to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska and back to their Yukon wintering grounds this year. Their trek has brought home to the world how critical these coastal plains are to the caribou for raising their young and ensuring the survival of the herd. Their experience in the calving grounds and the extreme sensitivity of the caribou to their presence leave me with no doubt that oil and gas exploration or development could not occur without causing detrimental disturbance to the herd.
I urge you to do everything in your power to pressure the United States government to permanently protect the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge.
Sincerely,
Your Name
cc: Honourable Sheila Copps, Minister of Canadian Heritage
cc: Honourable Sheila Tooze, Environment and Fisheries Officer, Canadian Embassy, Washington DC, USA