The Glacier Gallows by Stephen Legault Page B

know.”
    â€œWhat have they been wanting to do but haven’t been able to yet?”
    â€œBuild a pipeline to China.”
    â€œYes. So maybe there will be something in there about reviewing all energy-related projects. Or maybe something about infrastructure. Do you know if the Minister of Industry will be there?”
    â€œI don’t know. I’ll check.”
    â€œHe might throw in something about climate-change technology. This government is all about building stuff.”
    â€œI don’t know . . .” Marriott said again.
    â€œBrian?”
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œYou faded out on me.”
    â€œCole, I think I got what I need. This has been helpful.”
    â€œOkay, I think I just felt the Earth slip on its orbit.” Cole laughed.
    Brian didn’t hear him. He hung up the phone without saying goodbye. He knew what the minister would sneak into the regulatory review.
    BRIAN STEPPED OUT of the West Block and looked up at the Peace Tower. He pulled on his gloves. When he heard his name called, he turned with a start.
    â€œDidn’t mean to scare ya.” A man walked down the steps behind him.
    â€œHi, Charles.”
    Charles Wendell was dressed in a down coat and clownish wool hat. “Evening, Brian.”
    â€œWere you at this thing with the minister?”
    â€œI was incognito.”
    â€œSurprised the minister sent you an invite.”
    â€œWell, he didn’t. The dippers had an extra pass and gave it to me.”
    â€œYou work for the New Democrats now?”
    â€œNope, still with Green Earth. One of the MP s—the environment critic—lets me use her office. Her staffer couldn’t go to the reception, so I got the invite. What did you think?” Charles asked.
    Brian turned to look back at the Peace Tower. “I don’t know what to think.”
    â€œI do. It’s a load of bullshit, Brian. That jackass Canning is hosing us. He’s going to tie us up in a regulatory review for the next year, promising more access for wind and solar while he pushes through the largest expansion of the tar sands in history. He’ll approve new pipelines and let his pals frack the hell out of BC , Alberta, and Saskatchewan.”
    Brian sighed. “We need to open the market for renewable energy.”
    â€œSure, but not while they ram the tar sands down our throats.”
    â€œWhat would you do?”
    â€œShut that shit down. I know the moderates want to use tar sands royalties to fund the development of solar and wind. Don’t get in bed with the enemy, man. If we go there, we can’t turn back. We take millions, maybe billions, of dollars from the tar sands players and we may as well marry them. It will be impossible to criticize them if we’re taking their cash.”
    â€œWe need to fund the transition.” Brian had snow settling on his hair.
    â€œTaxes, man, good old-fashioned taxes.”
    â€œFrom this government?”
    â€œYou see, the problem is that so long as guys like you—with your suit and tie and party credentials—go to receptions and sit in the front row at press conferences, this government can get away with this shit. I know you don’t like to hear this, but you’re undermining the movement.”
    â€œWhat movement is that?”
    â€œThe environmental movement.”
    â€œI didn’t know it was a movement. I thought it was a business.”
    â€œYou see? That’s the kind of shit I mean. You’re just in your role at AEG to make this government look good, and while you’re doing it, you’ll marginalize the real environmentalists.”
    â€œAs always, Charles, this has been fun. As long as you don’t have any solutions, only objections, I’m going to head home. Tomorrow is going to be a big day.”
    â€œOh, I have solutions, Brian. When someone bags you on the Hill, you bag them back.”
    â€œWhat are you talking