Environmental extremism a rising threat to energy sector, RCMP warns – The Globe and Mail
RCMP analysts have warned government and industry that environmental extremists pose a “clear and present criminal threat” to Canada’s energy sector, and are more likely to strike at critical infrastructure than religiously inspired terrorists, according to a report released under Access to Information.
Written by the force’s critical infrastructure intelligence team, the 22-page RCMP document argues there is a “growing criminal phenomenon” associated with environmentalism that aims to interfere with regulatory reviews and force companies to forego development.
“Environmental ideologically motivated individuals including some who are aligned with a radical, criminal extremist ideology pose a clear and present criminal threat to Canada’s energy sector,” said the report, written in March 2011. Since then, the RCMP has held regular meetings with energy companies and federal officials to review potential threats to infrastructure, and faces formal complaints that it conducted surveillance on environmental groups that oppose construction of Enbridge Inc.’s Northern Gateway pipeline.
