Invest in Beer, Not Tar Sands!

[Romero]

The tar sands make-up just 2% of Canada's GDP but they lag far behind the beer industry on the job front as well.



The "beer economy" (which includes retail sales, transportation and wholesale distribution, as well as the agriculture products to make the beer itself) employs more than 163,000 people. In fact 1 out of every 100 jobs in Canada is in beer. A report out late last year suggests that 44 cents of every dollar spent on beer goes to the government in taxes ($5.8 billion) making buying beer almost a civic duty.



The "tar sands" economy is a much dirtier and toxic story.



The Canadian government does a lot -- from gutting Canada's environmental legislation, to muzzling scientists, to spending millions on ads -- to prop up the tar sands industry. Tar sands production also destroys a lot. It poisons our rivers, decimates the land, pollutes the air, tramples treaty rights and is further accelerating a growing climate crisis.



It also needs a network of pipelines and refineries to support it's growth bringing the risk of spills, and blow-outs to communities right across Canada and the United States.



While beer is almost a necessity, especially at a hockey game or a family reunion, the tar sands are a nightmare that the world and Canada can't afford.



Better solutions are out there. Just imagine how much beer we could brew if we gave the $2.8 billion dollars the Canadian and Alberta government gives to the oil industry every year to craft beer brewers across the country, or how green industries could take off if they were just given an even playing field especially given the fact you get 7 times more jobs when you invest green than when you invest in oil and gas.



We have the ability to move to cleaner transportation fuels, and greener sources of electricity and create tens of thousands of jobs in the process. This would mean cleaner water (great for beer brewing), fresher air, healthier communities and less risk of a global climatic collapse. The solutions are here, they are being implemented around the world, we just need the political will to implement them here in Canada.



Let's keep the tar sands horror story in the ground and build a true Canadian dream full of green jobs, sustainable transportation, and, of course, the tastiest of beer.



A better, bolder, and hoppier Canada is possible. Let's make it real.



http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/mike-hudema/beer-economy_b_5021708.html">//http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/mike-hudema/beer-economy_b_5021708.html

There are billions of thirsty potential customers worldwide. We should be transporting beer through pipelines and with tankers! Even if there are spills, who would complain? There would be hundreds of volunteers on the scene with minutes lapping it all up.

[Obvious Li]

The tar sands make-up just 2% of Canada's GDP but they lag far behind the beer industry on the job front as well.



The "beer economy" (which includes retail sales, transportation and wholesale distribution, as well as the agriculture products to make the beer itself) employs more than 163,000 people. In fact 1 out of every 100 jobs in Canada is in beer. A report out late last year suggests that 44 cents of every dollar spent on beer goes to the government in taxes ($5.8 billion) makinghttp://www.huffingtonpost.ca/mike-hudem ... 21708.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/mike-hudema/beer-economy_b_5021708.html[/url]

There are billions of thirsty potential customers worldwide. We should be transporting beer through pipelines and with tankers! Even if there are spills, who would complain? There would be hundreds of volunteers on the scene with minutes lapping it all up.

i agree with that part at least

[Anonymous]

What a cute thread.

 :)