Letter to the editor: Why the silence ?

Notes: The writer, is the retired bishop of Athabasca and metropolitan of the province of Rupert's Land. "Here's my response to the announcement that [the] dioceses of Ottawa and Montreal have made the decision to not invest their funds in the oil industry ('Synods divest from fossil fuels', Jan. 2016, p. 1): I want you to remember that there are thousands of people whose employment revolves around the production of oil in northern Alberta. Since the downturn in oil revenues, 53,000 oil-related jobs have been eliminated, and that number is still rising. The silence from our political leaders in Ottawa has been both deafening and extremely disappointing. .... What would be the response of governments if this magnitude of layoffs had occurred in Ontario or Quebec ? Both Syncrude and Suncor are the biggest employers of First Nations people anywhere in Canada. .... Unfortunately, there has been no vocal concern from any of the church leaders in Canada, which is even more tragic because the churches above all are in the people business. When any group makes political decisions, there are people involved who are directly affected. Leadership demands presence and action -- otherwise, it is just words !?

Subjects: Oil industries - Canada; Oil industries - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada; Oil sands industry - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada; Investments - Moral and ethical aspects - Anglican Church of Canada; Investments - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada