Re: "Natural resources drive 20 per cent of economy: report," Sept 5.

The Harper government released figures showing that natural resources drive 20 per cent of the economy and about 10 per cent of all jobs. As Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver stated, the purpose is to "defend their strong support of the natural-resource sector against environmentalists and others."

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In typical Conservative fashion, they kept the math behind the figures secret. But nobody is disputing the importance of the natural-resources sector. This report is another example of short-term, narrow, conservative thinking that brands environmentalists and those who think about long-term public costs as the enemy.

What the Conservatives fail to understand is the other side of the balance sheet - not only the environmental risks but the costs of cleaning up the mess left when a resource is no longer profitable.

The Sydney Tar Ponds in Nova Scotia is one of many examples. It took 22 years and many taxpayer-funded studies just to develop a plan to deal with the 700,000 metric tons of toxic sludge. Cleanup costs were capped at $400 million, all paid by governments.

Investors in the resources sector look only at profitability. There are hundreds of lobbyists in Ottawa and in provincial capitals looking after their interests.

The federal government has a responsibility to represent the long-term best interests of the country, but as this report shows, it is an advertising agency for the resources sector.

John R. Paterson

Victoria